Pratt Regional Medical Center recently enhanced its radiology services, including a state-of-the-art CAT scanner. Because of the new enhancements, physicians are now capable of diagnosing and treating patients with diseases such as Hepatitis C. Dan Suiter, M.D., a local gastroenterologist, is pleased with this new opportunity.

"The capability of the new CT scanner combined with the full-time invasive radiology services, provided to PRMC from United Radiology of Salina, makes diagnosing and treating those with Hepatitis C now possible,¨ Suiter said. "There are few physicians who are capable of offering these services to people in western Kansas. Those suffering from Hepatitis C will benefit because of the quality of care they will receive much closer to home."

Hepatitis C patients, seeking treatment and follow-up care, have been traveling to places such as Wichita, KS or Amarillo, Texas.

Hepatitis C is a dangerous form of liver disease that causes the organ to swell and stop it from working correctly. The liver is key in fighting infections and stops bleeding. It also removes drugs and other poisons from the body.

This disease is usually contracted through illicit IV drug use by sharing contaminated needles, having sexual intercourse with an infected person or being born to an infected mother. Hepatitis C could also be contracted through blood transfusion or organ transplants before 1992. After 1992, doctors began screening blood for Hepatitis C.

Symptoms of the disease include fatigue, stomach pain and/or sickness, fever, loss of appetite, diarrhea, dark colored urine, light-colored stools and yellowish eyes and skin. Many patients with Hepatitis C have no symptoms.

In order to test for Hepatitis C, a blood test will be performed. In some cases, a doctor may also perform a liver biopsy. In this case, the doctor will remove a small piece of the liver through a needle. Liver damage may also be checked this way.

Two main drugs, peginterferon and ribavirin, are used in combination for the treatment of the disease. If Hepatitis C has been causing liver damage over the course of several years, it can cause the liver to stop working. If this happens, a liver transplant will be needed.

Rules to follow that help protect against Hepatitis C include:

- Don`t share needles.
- Wear gloves around blood.
- Use a condom during sex.
- Don`t use any infected personal items; razors, toothbrushes or anything that could have blood on it.
- Make sure clean tools are used in tattoos or body piercings.
- If infected with Hepatitis C, do not give blood or plasma.

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