Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C Virus Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, which can be caused by several different viruses. It can also be acute or chronic, depending on the particular virus and stage of the disease. The different types of hepatitis are hepatitis A (HAV), hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis B- associated delta (HDV), hepatitis C (HCV) (Porth 2005). These viruses are capable of being transmitted in many different ways but each one will instigate a viral response and inflammation within the liver itself. HAV presents as an acute infection and does not become chronic (CDC 2011). HBV and HCV may begin as acute infections, but can remain in the body and result in a long-term chronic illness (CDC). Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), which is the chronic form of the disease, is one of the most common causes of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in the world (Porth 2005). There are 3.9 million people in the Unites States, who are infected with HCV (Falvo 2009). The hepatitis C virus is a result of infection from the flavivirus but is unrelated to the HAV or HBV virus; it is also from the same family of viruses as the yellow fever virus (OHDS 2011). Unlike HAV and HBV, there is no immunization available for HCV. Of those that are infected, 75% to 85% will develop chronic infections, which can lead to the development of chronic liver disease (ODHS). Who is at risk for HCV? The CDC (2011) discusses that injectable drug users (IDU), past and present. Statistically, IDU have been shown to account for approximately 60% of current HCV infections (CDC). Others at risk include persons who have received blood or blood products before the implementation of screening practices in 1992; hemodialysis patients; persons who have participated in non-sterile tattooing and body piercing practices; HIV patients; and children born to mothers that carry the hepatitis C virus. For members of the health care community, this can be a potential hazard due to accidental

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