DISEASE SCANNER

Global Incurable Diseases Tracker

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Infectious Disease

Hepatitis C

HIGH SEVERITY

Viral infection causing liver inflammation, transmitted via blood. Often chronic, leading to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Curable with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). 58 million chronically infected.

Global Affected

58.0M

Countries

156

Symptoms

Usually asymptomatic for years
Fatigue
Nausea
Loss of appetite
Jaundice (late)
Abdominal pain
Dark urine
Clay-colored stools
Bleeding easily
Confusion (hepatic encephalopathy)

Treatment Options

Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs)
Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir
Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir
Sofosbuvir/daclatasvir
Ribavirin (rarely)
Liver transplant
HCC surveillance

Risk Factors

1Injection drug use (current highest risk)
2Blood transfusions before 1992
3Healthcare exposures
4Tattoos/piercings (unsterile)
5Birth to infected mother
6HIV co-infection
7Hemodialysis
8Sexual transmission (less common)

Diagnostic Methods

  • 1Anti-HCV antibody
  • 2HCV RNA PCR
  • 3HCV genotype
  • 4FibroScan/liver biopsy
  • 5Liver function tests
  • 6HCC screening (ultrasound, AFP)

Prognosis

Excellent with DAA treatment (>95% cure). Without treatment: 15-30% develop cirrhosis over 20 years. HCC risk increased 15-20 fold in cirrhosis.

Prevention

  • No vaccine available
  • Harm reduction for PWID
  • Safe healthcare injection practices
  • Blood screening
  • Safe tattoos/piercings
  • Treatment as prevention
  • Not sharing personal items (razors, toothbrushes)

Research Status

Direct-acting antivirals (sofosbuvir/velpatasvir) cure >95% in 8-12 weeks. WHO goal: eliminate HCV by 2030. No vaccine yet. Pan-genotypic regimens simplify treatment. Generic versions reduce cost.

Affected Countries

EgyptPakistanBangladeshNigeriaChinaIndiaIndonesiaPhilippinesVietnamThailandMMKHLAMNUzbekistanTJKGKazakhstanTMAzerbaijanAMGEUkraineBelarusMDRussiaUnited StatesUnited KingdomCanadaAustraliaGermanyFranceItalySpainJapanBrazilMexicoArgentinaChileColombiaPeruVenezuelaEcuadorUYPYBOCRPAGuatemalaHNSVNIBZJMHaitiDominican RepublicCubaPRSwedenNetherlandsBelgiumSwitzerlandAustriaDenmarkNorwayFinlandPolandCzech RepublicHungaryRomaniaBulgariaCroatiaSloveniaSlovakiaLTLVEEIrelandPortugalGreeceCYMTLUIcelandNew ZealandSouth KoreaSingaporeTaiwanHong KongMalaysiaIndonesiaPhilippinesVietnamThailandMMKHLAMNKazakhstanUzbekistanTMKGTJAzerbaijanAMGEUkraineBelarusMDALBAMEMKSerbiaXKSouth AfricaNigeriaEgyptTurkeyIranSaudi ArabiaUAEQatarKuwaitOmanJordanLebanonSyriaYemenIraqAfghanistanPakistanBangladeshLKNPMMKHLAMNKazakhstanUzbekistanTMKGTJAzerbaijanAMGEUkraineBelarusMDALBAMEMKSerbiaXK

Sources

  • https://www.cdc.gov
  • https://www.who.int
  • https://www.hematology.org/education/patients
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books
  • https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases

Medical Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult healthcare professionals for medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment.