Your liver is the largest organ inside your body. It helps your body digest food, store energy, and remove poisons. Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver according to MedlinePlus1 .
Viruses cause most cases of hepatitis. The type of hepatitis is named for the virus that causes it; for example, hepatitis A, hepatitis B or hepatitis C. Drug or alcohol use can also cause hepatitis. In other cases, your body mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the liver.
An estimated 2.7-3.9 million people in the United States have chronic hepatitis C with an estimated 30,500 acute hepatitis C cases occurring in 20142 .
Born between 1945-1965? Read this about Hepatitis C3
- Of the estimated 3.2 million people chronically infected with hepatitis C in the U.S., approximately 75% were born during 1945-1965, or are baby boomers.
- National prevalence data show that people born during these years are five times more likely than other adults to be infected.
- Hepatitis C is a leading cause of liver cancer and the leading cause of liver transplants; people born during 1945-1965 account for 73% of all hepatitis C- associated mortality.
Common Questions with Answers
Is hepatitis C a common cause for liver transplantation?
Yes. Chronic HCV infection is the leading indication for liver transplants in the United States.
Who is at risk for HCV infection?
The following persons are at known to be at increased risk for HCV infection:
- Current or former injection drug users, including those who injected only once many years ago
- Recipients of clotting factor concentrates made before 1987 when more advanced methods for manufacturing those products were developed
- Recipients of blood transfusions or solid organ transplants before July 1992, when better testing of blood donors became available
- Chronic hemodialysis patients
- Persons with known exposures to HCV, such as
- health care workers after needlesticks involving HCV-positive blood
- recipients of blood or organs from a donor who tested HCV-positive
- Persons with HIV infection
- Children born to HCV-positive mothers
Is it possible for someone to become infected with HCV and then spontaneously clear the infection?
Yes. Approximately 15%–25% of persons clear the virus from their bodies without treatment and do not develop chronic infection; the reasons for this are not well known.
How likely is HCV infection to become chronic?
HCV infection becomes chronic in approximately 75%–85% of cases.
What are the chances of someone developing chronic HCV infection, chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, or liver cancer or dying as a result of hepatitis C?
Of every 100 persons infected with HCV, approximately
- 75–85 will go on to develop chronic infection
- 60–70 will go on to develop chronic liver disease
- 5–20 will go on to develop cirrhosis over a period of 20–30 years
- 1–5 will die from the consequences of chronic infection (liver cancer or cirrhosis)
Who should be tested for HCV infection?
HCV testing is recommended for anyone at increased risk for HCV infection, including:
- Persons born from 1945 through 1965
- Persons who have ever injected illegal drugs, including those who injected only once many years ago
- Recipients of clotting factor concentrates made before 1987
- Recipients of blood transfusions or solid organ transplants before July 1992
- Patients who have ever received long-term hemodialysis treatment
- Persons with known exposures to HCV, such as
- health care workers after needlesticks involving HCV-positive blood
- recipients of blood or organs from a donor who later tested HCV-positive
- All persons with HIV infection
- Patients with signs or symptoms of liver disease (e.g., abnormal liver enzyme tests)
- Children born to HCV-positive mothers (to avoid detecting maternal antibody, these children should not be tested before age 18 months)
10 Signs and Symptoms of acute HCV infection
Persons with newly acquired HCV infection usually are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms that are unlikely to prompt a visit to a health care professional. When symptoms occur, they can include:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Dark urine
- Clay-colored stool
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Joint pain
- Jaundice
Why is this Info Important to Black Women?
Chronic liver disease was the 9th leading cause of death among Black Females ages 45 to 64 in 2014 according to the Centers for Disease Control4 (CDC). Hepatitis C is a leading cause of liver cancer and the leading cause of liver transplants.
Enjoyed this post? Share it and read more here. Questions? “Ask the Pharmacist a Question!” Jay Harold is always looking out for your health and wealth.
Please take this advice of Muhammad Ali and give back to others. “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” ~ Muhammad Ali
