Hepatitis C (HCV)

What is Hepatitis C?

HCV is found in blood and certain body fluids. It is spread when blood or fluids from an infected person enters another person's body. HCV is spread through sharing needles or "works" when "shooting" drugs, through needlesticks or sharps exposures on the job, or sometimes from an infected mother to her baby during birth. It is possible to transmit HCV from sex, but it is uncommon.

Who is at risk?

People with increased risk of HVC infection include:

• Injecting drug users

• Recipients of clotting factors made before 1987

• Hemodialysis patients

• Recipients of blood/solid organs before 1992

• People with undiagnosed liver problems

• Infants born to infected mothers (after 12 months of age)

• Health care/public safety workers (only after known exposure)

People for whom testing may or may not be indicated:

• People having sex with multiple partners

• People having sex with an infected steady partner

What if you are infected ?

Incubation period: 14 to 180 days, average 45 days

Chronic infection: 75-85% of infected persons

Chronic liver disease:  70% of chronically infected persons. In the U.S., 8-10,000 people die each year from HCV. People who have chronic HCV infection have a much higher risk of liver failure (cirrhosis) and liver cancer. Chronic HCV-related liver disease is the leading indication for liver transplant.

What treatment helps?

HCV-positive persons should have a medical evaluation for liver disease every 6-12 months. Interferon, pegylated interferon, and ribavirin are the only drugs licensed for the treatment of persons with chronic Hepatitis C. Interferon can be taken alone or in combination with ribavirin. Combination therapy is currently the treatment of choice and can eliminate the virus in up to 40% of patients.

Get vaccinated against Hepatitis A, and ask your doctor if you need Hepatitis B vaccine as well.

Avoid alcohol. It can worsen liver disease.

How is it prevented ?

There is no vaccine to prevent Hepatitis C. HCV can be spread by sex, but this is rare. If you are having sex with more than one steady partner, use condoms correctly and every time to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. (The efficacy of latex condoms in preventing infection with HCV is unknown, but their proper use may reduce transmission). You should also get vaccinated against Hepatitis B.

For more information contact the Student Health Center or check out the CDC website on Hepatitis C.