1Disease Classification
Acute or Chronic Hepatitis C
2Causative Agent
Hepatitis C Virus
3GTKYCA
Envelope, Spherical virion 50nm, (+) single stranded RNA virus 9600b, 7 genotypes, 8 protien coding genes
4Epidemiology: Reservoir
Humans
5Epidemiology: POE
Compromised skin or mucosa
6Epidemiology: MOT
Person to person via contaminated body fluids (blood); sharing items contaminated with blood; viability of virus outside of host is 3 weeks; mother to baby (birth)
7Symptoms
80% asymptomatic; acute- same as hep B. latency same as hep B
8Complications
80% chronic infection (asymptomatic or suffer general fatigue or depression); liver cirrhosis (10-20% w/in 20yrs); liver cancer (20x risk for those with cirrhosis); liver failure
9Prevention
practice universal precautions, avoid exposure to contaminated fluids
10Treatment
Direct Acting Antivirals (DAAs), Interferon (IFN), Avoid alcohol consumption