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| SIGNS & SYMPTOMS |
-
jaundice
-
fatigue
-
dark urine
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-
abdominal pain
-
loss of appetite
-
nausea
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80% of persons have no signs or symptoms.
CAUSE Hepatitis C virus (HCV)
LONG-TERM EFFECTS
- Chronic infection: 55%-85%
of infected persons
- Chronic liver disease: 70%
of chronically infected persons
- Deaths from chronic liver
disease: 1%-5% of infected persons may die
- Leading indication for
liver transplant
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TRANSMISSION
- Occurs when blood or body
fluids from an infected person enters the body of a person who
is not infected.
- HCV is spread through
sharing needles or "works" when "shooting" drugs, through
needlesticks or sharps exposures on the job, or from an infected
mother to her baby during birth.
Persons at risk for HCV infection might also be at risk for
infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or HIV.
Recommendations for Testing Based on Risk for HCV Infection |
PREVENTION
- There is no vaccine to
prevent hepatitis C.
- Do not shoot drugs; if you
shoot drugs, stop and get into a treatment program; if you can't
stop, never share needles, syringes, water, or "works", and get
vaccinated against hepatitis A & B.
- Do not share personal care
items that might have blood on them (razors, toothbrushes).
- If you are a health care or
public safety worker, always follow routine barrier precautions
and safely handle needles and other sharps; get vaccinated
against hepatitis B.
- Consider the risks if you
are thinking about getting a tattoo or body piercing. You might
get infected if the tools have someone else's blood on them or
if the artist or piercer does not follow good health practices.
- HCV can be spread by sex,
but this is rare. If you are having sex with more than one
steady sex partner, use latex condoms* correctly and every time
to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. You
should also get vaccinated against hepatitis B.
- If you are HCV positive, do
not donate blood, organs, or tissue.
TREATMENT & MEDICAL MANAGEMENT
- HCV positive persons should
be evaluated by their doctor for liver disease.
- Interferon and ribavirin
are two drugs licensed for the treatment of persons with chronic
hepatitis C.
- Interferon can be taken
alone or in combination with ribavirin. Combination therapy,
using pegylated interferon and ribavirin, is currently the
treatment of choice.
- Combination therapy can get
rid of the virus in up to 5 out of 10 persons for genotype 1 and
in up to 8 out of 10 persons for genotype 2 and 3.
- Drinking alcohol can make
your liver disease worse.
STATISTICS & TRENDS
- Number of new infections
per year has declined from an average of 240,000 in the 1980s to
about 30,000 in 2003.
- Most infections are due to
illegal injection drug use.
- Transfusion-associated
cases occurred prior to blood donor screening; now occurs in
less than one per million transfused unit of blood.
- Estimated 3.9 million
(1.8%) Americans have been infected with HCV, of whom 2.7
million are chronically infected.
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Hepatitis C Index:
Hepatitis C Health Info
Hepatitis C Fact Sheet
Hepatitis C Infection in the USA
Hepatitis C - Prevention & Control |