What is Hepatitis C?

Contents

Hepatitis C: Introduction
Types of Hepatitis C
Prognosis
Complications
Prevalence
Other names for Hepatitis C
What causes Hepatitis C?
What are the symptoms of Hepatitis C?
Organs Affected by Hepatitis C
Can anyone else get Hepatitis C?
How is it treated?
Society issues for Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C: Introduction

What is Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is a form of hepatitis, a group of serious diseases that cause inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis C ...more »

Hepatitis C: Viral liver infection spread by blood.
Hepatitis C: RAEB: Used for the diseases or the viruses.
Source - Diseases Database
Hepatitis C: a viral hepatitis clinically indistinguishable from hepatitis B but caused by a single-stranded RNA virus; usually transmitted by parenteral means (as injection of an illicit drug or blood transfusion or exposure to blood or blood products).
Source - WordNet 2.1

Hepatitis C: Introduction

Types of Hepatitis C:

Types of Hepatitis C:

Broader types of Hepatitis C:

How many people get Hepatitis C?

Prevalance of Hepatitis C: estimated 2 to 5 million HCV chronic carriers
Prevalance Rate of Hepatitis C: approx 1 in 136 or 0.74% or 2 million people in USA [about data]
Incidence (annual) of Hepatitis C: 150,000 new cases in the USA 1991 (Digestive diseases in the United States: Epidemiology and Impact – NIH Publication No. 94-1447, NIDDK, 1994)
Incidence Rate of Hepatitis C: approx 1 in 1,813 or 0.06% or 150,000 people in USA [about data]
Worldwide prevalence: 170 million people worldwide with Hepatitis C (Blood Safety Surveillance and Health Care Acquired Infections Division, Health Canada)
Prevalance of Hepatitis C: CDC estimates that nearly 4 million Americans are infected with hepatitis C, many of whom are not aware of their infection. (Source: excerpt from Microbes in Sickness and in Health -- Publications, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: NIAID) ... It is estimated that there are between 2 and 5 million HCV chronic carriers. (Source: excerpt from Hepatitis: NWHIC)
Incidence of Hepatitis C: 150,000 new cases (1991) (Source: excerpt from Digestive Diseases Statistics: NIDDK)

How serious is Hepatitis C?

Complications of Hepatitis C: see complications of Hepatitis C
Deaths for Hepatitis C: estimated 8,000 to 10,000 deaths annually from Chronic HepC in USA (NIDDK)

What causes Hepatitis C?

Causes of Hepatitis C: see causes of Hepatitis C
Risk factors for Hepatitis C: see risk factors for Hepatitis C

What are the symptoms of Hepatitis C?

Symptoms of Hepatitis C: see symptoms of Hepatitis C

Complications of Hepatitis C: see complications of Hepatitis C

Can anyone else get Hepatitis C?

Contagion of Hepatitis C: Spread by blood; less commonly by sex; not spread by incidental contact such as handshake, hugging, kissing.
More information: see contagiousness of Hepatitis C
Inheritance: see inheritance of Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C: Testing

Diagnostic testing: see tests for Hepatitis C.

Misdiagnosis: see misdiagnosis and Hepatitis C.

How is it treated?

Doctors and Medical Specialists for Hepatitis C: General practitioner, Primary care physician, Gastroenterologist, Gastrointestinal surgeon, General surgeon, Hepatologist, Immunologist, Infectious disease specialist, Gynaecologist, Geriatrician ; see also doctors and medical specialists for Hepatitis C.
Treatments for Hepatitis C: see treatments for Hepatitis C
Alternative treatments for Hepatitis C: see alternative treatments for Hepatitis C
Prevention of Hepatitis C: see prevention of Hepatitis C
Research for Hepatitis C: see research for Hepatitis C

Society issues for Hepatitis C

Costs of Hepatitis C: $600 million (CDC-OC)
Costs of Hepatitis C: The estimated cost for treating hepatitis C is $600 million (199)/yearly including medical and work loss (Source: excerpt from Facts About Hepatitis A and C: CDC-OC)