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Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C. Cirrhosis & Liver Cancer. What Causes HCV?. Caused by hepatitis C virus The virus is bloodborne Virus mainly attacks liver cells Hepatitis C infection can be either Acute Chronic. Acute Hepatitis C Increasing in Young American Adults.

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Hepatitis C

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  1. Hepatitis C Cirrhosis & Liver Cancer

  2. What Causes HCV? • Caused by hepatitis C virus • The virus is bloodborne • Virus mainly attacks liver cells • Hepatitis C infection can be either • Acute • Chronic

  3. Acute Hepatitis C Increasing in Young American Adults • New infections dramatically increased in number from 2010 to 20131 • An estimated 29,718 new HCV infections occurred in 2013.1

  4. Figure 4.2. Incidence of acute hepatitis C, by age group — United States, 2000–2013 Source: National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS)

  5. How Do I Get HCV • The virus is transmitted through blood • Mostly through sharing of needles when “shooting” drugs • Inadequately sterilized tattoo or body piercing needles • Needle stick injuries to health care workers

  6. …continuedHow Do I Get HCV? • Sexual Transmission - Increased risk factors for sexual transmission include • Multiple partners • Co-infections from other STDs • Traumatic sexual activity • Men having sex with men • May be passed from infected mother to infant2

  7. HCV and IDUs • Injection drug users (IDUs) account for more than half of new infections • 50%-80% new IDUs will become infected within 6-12 months of use

  8. HCV Transmission Other 1% Sexual exposure 15% Injection drug use 60% Occupational 4% Transfusion before screening 10% Unknown 10% Source: CDC. 2009.

  9. What Happens if I Get HCV? • About 80% of infected persons show no symptoms • Flu-like symptoms with fatigue, muscle pain, headache • Nausea, vomiting, and sore throat • Jaundice (yellow eyes and skin, dark urine) may occur

  10. What are Long-Term Effects of HCV Infection? • 75% - 85% of acute infections lead to chronic infection • 60% - 70% will develop chronic liver disease • 5% - 20% will develop cirrhosis over a period of 20-30years • 1% - 5% will die from the consequences of chronic infection (liver cancer or cirrhosis) CDC,FAQs for Health Professionals 2015

  11. Chronic Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) • An estimated 2.7 million Americans are chronically infected1 • In 2007, HCV-related deaths exceeded the number of HIV/AIDS related deaths and has continued to increase. Over 19,000 in 20131 • CDC. 2013 Surveillance for Viral Hepatitis

  12. Chronic Hepatitis C in Baby Boomer Generation • Persons born during 1945 – 1965 have a 3% prevalence of HCV antibodies, which is five times higher than in adults born in other years. • In this group are many who received blood transfusions or blood products prior to 1992

  13. HCV and HIV Coinfection • About 1/4 of HIV-infected persons also infected with HCV • Coinfection with HIV leads to faster progression of HCV-related liver disease1 • Coinfection with HIV is common (80%) among HIV-infected injection drug users1 • Infants born to HCV- and HIV-positive females are more likely to be HCV infected than those born to females with HCV alone1 • CDC. 2011. HIV and Viral Hepatitis.

  14. HCV Treatment • Unlike HBV, there is no vaccine to prevent HCV infection • For those who are infected, antiviral treatment with a combination therapy is often effective • No treatment available to prevent transmission from mother to child

  15. Reducing Hepatitis C Risk • Avoid drugs and alcohol that can further damage the liver1 • HBV vaccine is recommended for persons with risk behaviors2 • IDUs • Men having sex with men • Avoid eating raw oysters (may harbor Vibrio vulnificus)3 • Boaz K, et al. 2003. Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. • CDC 2010. STD treatment guidelines. • Ulusarac O, Carter E. 2004. South Med J.

  16. Avoiding Hepatitis C • Avoid • Injection drug use • Inadequately sterilized tattoo or body piercing needles; avoid all street tattoos • Sharing of needles, razors, or tooth brushes of infected persons • Accidental needlesticks in health settings • For unmarried individuals, sexual abstinence is the only practical and certain way to avoid sexual transmission of HCV • For those who choose to be sexually active, marriage (mutually faithful, life-long relationship with an uninfected sexual partner) is the healthiest choice

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