Hepatitis C: A New Era.

Bragg, Dee Ann; Crowl, Ashley; Manlove, Emily · Prim Care · 2017

review · Level V

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Abstract

More than 2 million Americans are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), and only about half are aware that they are infected. Primarily blood-borne, risk factors for the virus include injection or intranasal drug use, unregulated tattoos, incarceration, and blood transfusion before 1992. In addition, 75% of those with the virus were born between 1945 and 1965, thus making the baby-boomer cohort a population of screening interest. Because acute and early chronic HCV are often asymptomatic, screening of at-risk individuals is of utmost importance. Left untreated, HCV can go on to produce significant hepatic and extrahepatic manifestations.

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