In settings with high HCV antibody seroprevalence in the general population (defined as >2% or >5% HCV antibody seroprevalence), WHO recommends that all adults have access to and be offered HCV testing with linkage to prevention, care and treatment services.Ībout 2.3 million people (6.2%) of the estimated 37.7 million living with HIV globally have serological evidence of past or present HCV infection. WHO recommends testing people who may be at increased risk of infection. The degree of liver damage is used to guide treatment decisions and management of the disease.Įarly diagnosis can prevent health problems that may result from infection and prevent transmission of the virus. This can be done by liver biopsy or through a variety of non-invasive tests. This nucleic acid for HCV RNA can either be done in a lab or using a simple point-of-care machine in the clinic.Īfter a person has been diagnosed with chronic HCV infection, an assessment should be conducted to determine the degree of liver damage (fibrosis and cirrhosis). Although no longer infected, they will still test positive for anti-HCV antibodies. This test is important because about 30% of people infected with HCV spontaneously clear the infection by a strong immune response without the need for treatment. If the test is positive for anti-HCV antibodies, a nucleic acid test for HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA) is needed to confirm chronic infection and the need for treatment.Testing for anti-HCV antibodies with a serological test identifies people who have been infected with the virus.In those people who go on to develop chronic HCV infection, the infection is often undiagnosed because it remains asymptomatic until decades after infection when symptoms develop secondary to serious liver damage. Those who are acutely symptomatic may exhibit fever, fatigue, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, pale faeces, joint pain and jaundice (yellowing of skin and the whites of the eyes).īecause new HCV infections are usually asymptomatic, few people are diagnosed when the infection is recent. Following initial infection, approximately 80% of people do not exhibit any symptoms. The incubation period for hepatitis C ranges from 2 weeks to 6 months. Hepatitis C is not spread through breast milk, food, water or casual contact such as hugging, kissing and sharing food or drinks with an infected person. HCV can be passed from an infected mother to her baby and via sexual practices that lead to exposure to blood (for example, people with multiple sexual partners and among men who have sex with men) however, these modes of transmission are less common. injecting drug use through the sharing of injection equipment.the transfusion of unscreened blood and blood products and.the reuse or inadequate sterilization of medical equipment, especially syringes and needles in healthcare settings.The hepatitis C virus is a bloodborne virus. Nine million people are chronically infected in the African Region and 5 million the Region of the Americas. In the South-East Asia Region and the Western Pacific Region, an estimated 10 million people in each region are chronically infected. The highest burden of disease is in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and European Region, with 12 million people chronically infected in each region. Of those with chronic HCV infection, the risk of cirrhosis ranges from 15% to 30% within 20 years. The remaining 70% (55–85%) of persons will develop chronic HCV infection. Around 30% (15–45%) of infected persons spontaneously clear the virus within 6 months of infection without any treatment. Acute HCV infections are usually asymptomatic and most do not lead to a life-threatening disease. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes both acute and chronic infection.
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