Basic Summary for Hepatitis C
Main name of condition: Hepatitis C
Other names or spellings: Hepatitis C virus, HCV, HepC, Hep C
What is Hepatitis C?
Brief description of Hepatitis C: Viral liver infection spread by blood.
Parent types of Hepatitis C: Liver conditions, Hepatitis, Viral Hepatitis, Viral diseases, Diseases contagious from sex, Diseases contagious from intravenous needles, Diseases contagious from blood, Diseases contagious from blood transfusion, Diseases contagious from vaginal sex, Diseases contagious during childbirth, Diseases contagious from kissing
Organs Affected by Hepatitis C: liver
Types of Hepatitis C: Acute Hepatitis C, Chronic 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.1 ... It is estimated that there are between 2 and 5 million HCV chronic carriers.2
Incidence of Hepatitis C: 150,000 new cases (1991)3
How serious is Hepatitis C?
Deaths for Hepatitis C: estimated 8,000 to 10,000 deaths annually from Chronic HepC in USA (NIDDK)
Complications of Hepatitis C: see complications of Hepatitis C
What causes Hepatitis C?
Class of Condition for Hepatitis C: viral
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
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
How is it treated?
Treatments for Hepatitis C: see 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 4
Footnotes:
1. excerpt from Microbes in Sickness and in Health - Publications, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: NIAID
2. excerpt from Hepatitis: NWHIC
3. excerpt from Digestive Diseases Statistics: NIDDK
4. excerpt from Facts About Hepatitis A and C: CDC-OC
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