Hepatitis C is a type of viral infection that strikes the liver and causes inflammation of the liver cells (or lymphocyte blood cells), which eventually kills the impacted cells. The hepatitis C virus (or HCV) is typically transmitted by bodily fluids (i.e., blood), which is why the majority of patients contract the virus via needle sharing with an infected individual. However, HCV may also be contracted through blood transfusion, dialysis, organ transplant, sexual contact (STD), body piercings or tattoos with unclean equipment, or via a mother with HCV to child. However, HCV can also remain active outside of a host for up to 3-hours.

The World Health Organization has revealed some shocking statistics about hepatitis C (or hep C):

• On a global level, approximately 71 million are infected with chronic hepatitis C.
• New cases range between 3- to 4-million new infections annually.
• HCV is 4x more prevalent compared to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
• Up to 80% of individuals who contract HCV do so via IV drug use and needle sharing.
• Out of every 85 people who have chronic HCV infection, roughly 20 will develop cirrhosis, which may lead to liver cancer.
• Surprisingly, cirrhosis and liver cancer lead to approximately 300,000 deaths annually.

While hepatitis C is more prevalent in Asian and African countries, rates continue to grow in the United States. If you suspect you may have come into contact with an individual with hepatitis C, a blood screening is imperative to health. Treatment of HCV will depend on the following stage of hepatitis C infection:

1. Acute hepatitis C
Hepatitis C in the acute stage, often makes individuals feel ill for roughly 6-months after exposure to the HCV virus. In this acute stage, the immune system aims to eradicate the virus from the body.

2. Chronic hepatitis C
Following the acute stage of HCV infection, roughly 85% of infected individuals advance into the chronic stage of the disease. The HCV has left the body during this stage, which means most patients are asymptomatic for a few years, and HCV can only be detected during a routine health check-up. However, as the virus is still in the patient’s body, chronic infection may lead to long-term illness, scarring of the liver, and chronic liver disease (i.e., cirrhosis), and associated symptoms (i.e., loss of appetite, stomach pain, fatigue, jaundice, joint and muscle pain, dark urine, easy bruising, and bleeding that’s difficult to stop).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have identified 6 specific HCV genotypes, and more than 50 subtypes, which exist globally. The HCV genotype is used to help select the anti-HCV therapy and/or interferon-based course of treatment:

• Genotypes 1, 2, and 3 exist globally. Type 1 is the most common in North America, affecting 75% of HCV infectious cases, with types 2 and 3 largely infecting the remainder of patients.
• Genotype 4 exists in central Africa, Egypt, and in the Middle East.
• Genotype 5 has been found predominantly in South Africa.
• Genotype 6 is almost entirely in Southeast Asia.