DISEASE SCANNER

Global Incurable Diseases Tracker

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Hepatologic Disease

Chronic Hepatitis C

HIGH SEVERITY

A viral infection caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV) that causes liver inflammation, potentially leading to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver failure. Chronic infection develops in 75-85% of acute cases. Curable with direct-acting antivirals.

Global Affected

58.0M

Countries

111

Symptoms

Often asymptomatic for years
Fatigue
Right upper quadrant pain
Jaundice (late)
Dark urine
Clay-colored stools
Nausea
Loss of appetite
Joint pain
Fever

Treatment Options

Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs)
Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir
Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir
Sofosbuvir/ledipasvir
Elbasvir/grazoprevir
Liver transplantation (if cirrhosis)
Treatment of complications

Risk Factors

1Injection drug use
2Blood transfusion before 1992
3Healthcare exposure
4Born to HCV-infected mother
5HIV co-infection
6Tattooing/piercing with unsterile equipment
7Intranasal drug use
8Sexual transmission (rare)

Diagnostic Methods

  • 1HCV antibody test
  • 2HCV RNA test (confirm active infection)
  • 3Genotype testing (less important now)
  • 4Liver fibrosis assessment (FibroScan, biopsy)
  • 5Liver function tests
  • 6Imaging (ultrasound, CT, MRI)
  • 7HCC screening (if cirrhosis)

Prognosis

With DAA treatment, >95% cure rate. Without treatment, 20-30% develop cirrhosis over 20-30 years. Risk of HCC increased with cirrhosis. Cure reduces but does not eliminate HCC risk in those with advanced fibrosis.

Prevention

  • Avoid sharing needles
  • Screen blood products
  • Standard precautions in healthcare
  • Harm reduction services
  • Treatment as prevention
  • Screening at-risk populations
  • HCV elimination programs

Research Status

Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) cure >95% of patients after 8-12 weeks. Pan-genotypic regimens (sofosbuvir/velpatasvir, glecaprevir/pibrentasvir) simplify treatment. Goal of HCV elimination by 2030 per WHO. Vaccine development challenging.

Affected Countries

United StatesUnited KingdomCanadaAustraliaGermanyFranceItalySpainJapanChinaIndiaBrazilRussiaSwedenNetherlandsBelgiumSwitzerlandAustriaDenmarkNorwayFinlandPolandCzech RepublicHungaryRomaniaBulgariaCroatiaSloveniaSlovakiaLTLVEEIrelandPortugalGreeceCYMTLUIcelandNew ZealandSouth KoreaSingaporeTaiwanHong KongMalaysiaThailandVietnamIndonesiaPhilippinesSouth AfricaNigeriaEgyptTurkeyIranSaudi ArabiaUAEQatarKuwaitOmanJordanLebanonSyriaYemenIraqAfghanistanPakistanBangladeshLKNPMMKHLAMNKazakhstanUzbekistanTMKGTJAzerbaijanAMGEUkraineBelarusMDALBAMEMKSerbiaXKMexicoArgentinaChileColombiaPeruVenezuelaEcuadorUYPYBOCRPAGuatemalaHNSVNIBZJMHaitiDominican RepublicCuba

Sources

  • https://www.who.int/publications/guidelines
  • 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.