Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by a virus (HCV). Acute hepatitis C is diagnosed based on symptomology - e.g., jaundice, fatigue, upper right abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite - coinciding with marked increases in serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and the presence of HCV antibody (anti HCV).

Diagnosing acute hepatitis can be difficult because it is commonly asymptomatic (or it is clinically mild). Furthermore, anti-HCV is not always concurrently present when symptoms do occur, as antibodies may not have developed yet.

Over 80% of persons infected with hepatitis C develop chronic hepatitis. The immune systems of the remainder of infected persons clear the virus and resolve the infection. Persons who are chronically infected are at an increased risk for the development of cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Among bloodborne infections in the United States, hepatitis C infection is the most common.

  • It is estimated that approximately 4 million people in the United States - or approximately 1 in 70 to 100 people - are infected with HCV.
  • Approximately 50-75% of persons with HCV do not know that they are infected.
  • Depending on which genotype of HCV one has, the current treatment success may be around 50-80% of patients completing an FDA-approved therapeutic regimen.

Therefore, persons who may be ask risk for hepatitis C are those who:

  • received a blood transfusion prior to July 1992
  • received blood, blood products, or solid organs from a donor who has hepatitis C
  • injected street drugs or shared a needle with someone who has hepatitis C
  • have been on long term kidney dialysis
  • as a healthcare worker, had frequent contact with blood on the job
  • had unprotected sex with a person who has hepatitis C
  • shared personal items, such as toothbrushes and razors which may have blood on them with someone who has hepatitis C
  • were born to hepatitis C infected mothers

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Hepatitis C Prevention and Control Recommendations include:

Primary Prevention

  • risk-reduction counseling and services
  • implementation and maintenance of infection control practices

Secondary Prevention

  • identification, testing, and counseling of persons at risk
  • medical management of infected persons

Sources:

  • National Library of Medicine
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases

Hepatitis C Web Resources

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Hepatitis C page has information regarding Hep C prevention, intervention, and education. There's good information for both the health provider and lay person here.

These guys get serious about providing lots of good links filled with information. Another "Everything you wanted to know about...[a certain health topic]" page. This great Hepatitis C - Medline Plus web page is provided by the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.

The HCV Advocate provides "information, education, and support for people with hepatitis C and their caregivers." (Information provided in multiple languages.)

Here's a homegrown one called the, New Mexico Hepatitis Program, "a web portal for clinicians, healthcare professionals and the general public concerned with Hepatitis C." Nice page with sections including:

  • Hepatitis C Basics
  • a Resource Center (fact sheets, publications, epidemiology, treatment, PowerPoint slides)
  • Ask the Expert (opportunity to ask experts questions online)
  • Education & Training
  • and Consultation Online