What Is Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C (HCV) is an infectious disease affecting primarily the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus. When people refer to HCV, they are actually talking about a family of related virus strains.
Today, there are six major genotypes (or strains) of HCV and more than 50 subtypes.
These genotypes share some common gene sequences (or traits) with other HCV genotypes, but differ in others.
Today, there are six major genotypes (or strains) of HCV and more than 50 subtypes.
These genotypes share some common gene sequences (or traits) with other HCV genotypes, but differ in others.
How common is hepatitis C?
At the end of 2018 an estimated 130,089 people in Australia were living with chronic hepatitis C, down from 188,951 at the start of 2016.
There were 10,537 notifications of hepatitis C in Australia in 2017.
There were 10,537 notifications of hepatitis C in Australia in 2017.
How is hepatitis C transmitted?
HCV is transmitted mostly through large or repeated exposures to infectious blood or body fluids such as:
Watch our video to learn more about hepatitis C and how medications help fight off the virus.
- Injection drug use
- As a recipient of donated blood, blood products,and organs (before 1992)
- Needlestick injuries in the health care setting
- Mother to childbirth transmission from an HCV-infected mother
- Unprotected sex with a person infected with HCV
- Unsanitary tattoo procedures with contaminated equipment
Watch our video to learn more about hepatitis C and how medications help fight off the virus.
Symptoms
What are the symptoms of hepatitis C infection?
Many patients experience no symptoms when they are initially infected. Patients may experience non-specific, mild symptoms that are unlikely to prompt a visit to their physician. When symptoms occur, they can include:
Of those that are exposed to HCV, 75%-85% have chronic HCV. For the remaining 15-25% the body will naturally clear the virus without treatment and no chronic infection results.
Those with chronic HCV experience gradual liver damage, scarring (or cirrhosis) and loss of function. In some cases, those with cirrhosis will go on to develop complete liver failure (resulting in the need for transplantation), liver cancer or life-threatening esophageal and weak gastric veins.
Many patients experience no symptoms when they are initially infected. Patients may experience non-specific, mild symptoms that are unlikely to prompt a visit to their physician. When symptoms occur, they can include:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Dark urine
- Clay-colored stool
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Muscle aches and joint pain
- Jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes)
Of those that are exposed to HCV, 75%-85% have chronic HCV. For the remaining 15-25% the body will naturally clear the virus without treatment and no chronic infection results.
Those with chronic HCV experience gradual liver damage, scarring (or cirrhosis) and loss of function. In some cases, those with cirrhosis will go on to develop complete liver failure (resulting in the need for transplantation), liver cancer or life-threatening esophageal and weak gastric veins.
How Is It Diagnosed?
Because HCV infection doesn't typically cause symptoms, patients are often not diagnosed until their donated blood is screened or when elevated liver enzymes are found during a routine health exam.
Because symptoms of the disease are often silent some individuals may be sent for testing as well as other at-risk populations—be screened for HCV. It is important to discuss your individual risk for infection and the need for testing with your physician.
Because symptoms of the disease are often silent some individuals may be sent for testing as well as other at-risk populations—be screened for HCV. It is important to discuss your individual risk for infection and the need for testing with your physician.
Medications
The following specialty medications are available at Ace, the leading specialty pharmacy for hepatitis C.
BRAND
DRUG
Epclusa
velpatasvir + sofosbuvir
Harvoni
ledipasvir + sofosbuvir
Maviret
glecaprevir + pibrentasvir
Sovaldi
sofosbuvir
Vosevi
voxilaprevir+velptatasvir + sofosbuvir
How Can Ace Help You?
With Ace, you’ll benefit from:
Take control of your health and well-being, and start your journey to better health with Ace today.
- Expert Support: Our dedicated team of health concierges is always available to answer your questions, provide guidance, and help you navigate your condition with confidence.
- Specialty Medication: We offer a wide range of specialty medications and support services, designed specifically for those living with chronic illnesses. Whether you’re looking for help managing a specific condition, or simply need access to the medications you need, we’ve got you covered.
- A Wide Range of Conditions: From diabetes to heart disease, and everything in between, we help manage a variety of special conditions.
Take control of your health and well-being, and start your journey to better health with Ace today.
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