What's HCV, signs & symptoms, risk factors, tests & methods of prevention???

2. What Is Hepatitis?
• Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver
– Hepat (liver) + itis (inflammation)=
Hepatitis
• Viral hepatitis means there is a specific
virus that is causing your liver to inflame
(swell or become larger than normal).

3. • World - 170 million people.
• Affects each person differently.
• No vaccine available.
• Many people have the virus and do
not even know it.
Hepatitis C

4. Deveopment

5. Signs and Symptoms
• Individuals may have one or more of the
following symptoms, while others
experience no symptoms:
–Tiredness
–Nausea
–Muscle or joint pain
–Trouble sleeping
–Loss of appetite
–Weight loss
–Abdominal pain
–Itchiness
–Depression
–Dark urine

6. Signs and Symptoms
• A few may have specific liver related
symptoms initially:
– Pale stool
– Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or
eyes)

7. Risk Factors

8. Prevention
• Never share drug equipment
• Never share tooth brushes/razors or
any personal hygiene articles that have
blood on them.
• Do not touch dirty needles without
following proper procedures.

9. • Antibody test
‘Window period’ – 2 weeks up to 6 months,
but on average 6 to 12 weeks. Indicates a
person has been exposed to the virus.
Doesn’t determine if infection is current or
what genotype is present.
• PCR tests
*Qualitative – virus detected/not detected
*Quantitative – viral load
*Genotype
Tests for Hepatitis C

10. Hepatitis C Treatment ?
• Combination Therapy
• (pegylated interferon and ribavirin).
• Treatment Regime
– weekly self administered injections of pegylated
interferon & daily ribavirin tablets taken orally.
– Treatment adherence is critical to achieve sustained
viral response (SVR).
• 6 months – 12 months (depending on genotype /
cirrhosis).
• Overall across genotypes: 60% viral clearance – and
up to 80% viral clearance in genotype 2 & 3.