Overview
Hepatitis C is an infection due to the hepatitis C virus
through contact with infected blood or by other means of transmission as stated
in the Introduction section.
Hepatitis C affects approximately 185 million individuals
globally. A detailed discussion about the prevalence of hepatitis C is in the Epidemiology section.
Injection drug use, blood transfusion, body piercings or
tattoos done with nonsterile instruments, occupational exposure in healthcare
workers, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are the factors that
influence the development of hepatitis C and are enumerated in the Risk Factors section.
Hepatitis C_Disease SummaryHistory and Physical Examination
The Clinical Presentation section describes the clinical features of
the different types of acute hepatitis. The different phases of the illness,
routes of transmission, incubation period, and the other characteristics of
hepatitis viruses are also discussed in this section.
The History section lists the important points in the
clinical history of patients who are suspected of viral hepatitis.
Diagnosis
Discussion on serological and screening tests and other
recommended lab tests in patients suspected of viral hepatitis is in the Laboratory Tests and Ancillaries section.
The Imaging section discusses noninvasive imaging
modalities for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular
carcinoma and the presence of ascites.
Other diseases that should be ruled out in the diagnosis of
hepatitis C are listed in the Differential
Diagnosis section.
Management
General care in the management of hepatitis C is explained in
the Evaluation section.
Clinical decisions and patient characteristics as important factors in the
management and treatment of hepatitis C are also discussed in this section.
General therapy principles and goals of treatment in the
management of hepatitis C are in the Principles
of Therapy section.
The Pharmacological
Therapy section discusses in
detail the management of acute and chronic hepatitis C depending on the type of
patients, genotypes, the presence or absence of cirrhosis, and retreatment
options for patients with failure or prior therapy.
The Nonpharmacological section includes things to educate the patient about the
management of hepatitis C, including discussion on partner notification.
Indications for liver transplantation are discussed in the Surgery section.
The Prevention
section includes explanations on primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions
recommended for individuals infected with the hepatitis C virus.
The Prognosis section discusses the consequences of
hepatitis C virus infection.
