Hepatitis C virus

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a small, enveloped, positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus of the family Flaviviridae. HCV is a major cause of both acute and chronic hepatitis.

Overview

Hepatitis C virus is a bloodborne virus and the most common modes of infection are through exposure to small quantities of blood. This may happen through injection drug use, unsafe injection practices, unsafe health care, and the transfusion of unscreened blood and blood products.

Structure

The Hepatitis C virus is a small (55–65 nm in size), enveloped, positive-sense single-strand RNA virus of the family Flaviviridae. The virus particle consists of a core of genetic material (RNA), surrounded by an icosahedral protective shell of protein, and further encased in a lipid (fatty) envelope of cellular origin.

Transmission

Hepatitis C is a bloodborne virus. The most common modes of infection are through exposure to small quantities of blood. This may happen through injection drug use, unsafe injection practices, unsafe health care, and the transfusion of unscreened blood and blood products.

Symptoms

Most people infected with the Hepatitis C virus do not have symptoms. Some people, however, can have mild to severe symptoms soon after being infected, including fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, clay-colored bowel movements, joint pain, and jaundice.

Treatment

Antiviral medicines can cure more than 95% of persons with Hepatitis C infection, thereby reducing the risk of death from liver cancer and cirrhosis, but access to diagnosis and treatment is low.

See also

• Hepatitis
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis D
• Hepatitis E
• Liver disease
• Liver cancer
• Cirrhosis

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Hepatitis C virus

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