A 31-year-old female presented with loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, stomach pain, and hepatomegaly. Upon examination, the doctor noticed yellowing of her skin and eyes. Blood tests were positive for hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is a disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus, which can lead to chronic infection in 60-70% of cases and cause cirrhosis in a small percentage over time. The patient's symptoms and blood test results indicate she has hepatitis C infection.

2.  31 year old female
 Past history of IVDA
 Loss of Appetite
 Nausea and Vomiting
 Fatigue
 Stomach pain
 Hepatomegaly
 Upon examination the doctor noticed
yellowing of her skin and eyes
 Blood was drawn for serological tests

3.  HIV/AIDS
 Hepatitis C

4.  Disease of the liver
 Leading cause of liver transplants
 Viral family- Flaviviridae
 Mortality: 10k- 12k per year
 SSRNA
 Incubation time
 14-182 days

6.  Insidious onset
 60-70% may be asymptomatic
 10-20% have non specific symptoms
 Anorexia, malaise, fatigue, abdominal pain

7.  60-85% of infections with hepatitis C
become chronic
 Of those chronic infections a small percentage
will develop cirrhosis
 Liver transplant

8. Chronic: Acute:
 Detectable HCV RNA
 IgM anti-HAV: Negative
 IgM anti-HBc: Negative
AND at one of the following
 Hepatitis C Virus Recombinant
Immunoblot assay: Positive
 Anti-HCV screen: Positive
 Nucleic Acid Test for HCV RNA: Positive
 Liver enzymes increased
 Based more on damage of the liver
 Persistent HCV RNA
 Fluctuating liver enzymes (ALT)

10. Chronic: Acute:
 General treatment such as:
 Resting, discontinuing drug usage, avoiding liver
harming substances, and eating well balanced
meals.
 Approximately 1/5 clear infection without
tx
 Antiviral regimen
 Pegylated interferon injection and ribivirin
 Beceprevir and telaprevir
 Antiviral regimen
 Pegylated interferon injection and ribivirin
 Boceprevir and telaprevir
 Liver Transplant

11.  1,229 acute cases reported in 2011.
 At least 170 million chronic carriers
worldwide
 Higher prevalence in South America and
Africa

12.  Hepatitis A
 Causes acute hepatitis, spread by f/o.
 Vaccination available
 Hepatitis B
 Can be acute or chronic, spread by blood or body
fluids.
 Vaccination available
 Hepatitis C
 Can be acute or chronic, spread by blood or body
fluids
 Vaccination not available