Hepatitis C

摘要

Hepatitis C is contagious and is usually transmitted through blood. People with acute HCV, a short-term illness, usually do not have symptoms. In rare cases, acute HCV may cause fever, nausea and vomiting, and jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes). Most people with acute HCV infection do not know they are infected, and most eventually develop chronic HCV, a long-term illness. Overtime, 20% to 30% develop severe liver disease, such as cirrhosis or cancer, which can be fatal. Currently, most cases of hepatitis are newly diagnosed cases of chronic HCV among baby boomers (people bom between 1945 and 1965). As a result, some health organizations have recommended that everyone in this age group be screened for HCV.The August 13, 2014, issue of JAMA contains a review article about HCV treatment.