More than one million people
are chronically infected
#HepTalk
An estimated 3.2 million persons in the
United States have chronic Hepatitis C
virus infection. Most people do not know
they are infected because they don’t
look or feel sick
#HepTalk
Approximately 70%–80% of people with
acute Hepatitis C do not have any
symptoms
#HepTalk
Of every 100 people infected with the
Hepatitis C virus, about 75–85 people
will develop chronic Hepatitis C virus
infection
#HepTalk
Of every 100 people infected with the
Hepatitis C virus 60–70 people will go on
to develop chronic liver disease
#HepTalk
Of every 100 people infected with the
Hepatitis C virus 5–20 people will go on
to develop cirrhosis over a period of 20–
30 years
#HepTalk
Of every 100 people infected with the
Hepatitis C virus 1–5 people will die
from cirrhosis or liver cancer
#HepTalk
50%–90% of HIV-infected persons who
use injection drugs are also infected
with the Hepatitis C virus.
#HepTalk
African American represents 13% of the
U.S population, but make up about 22%
of the chronic hepatitis C cases.
#HepTalk
African Americans have significantly
higher rates of chronic hepatitis C
infections than do Caucasians and other
ethnic groups.
#HepTalk
Chronic liver disease, often Hepatitis Crelated is the leading cause of death
among people ages 45-64 among African
Americans
#HepTalk
About 75 percent of adults with HCV are
of the “baby boomer” generation
#HepTalk
The hepatitis C virus is a blood borne
virus and the most common modes of
infection are through unsafe injection
practices; inadequate sterilization of
medical equipment in some health-care
settings; and unscreened blood and
blood products.
#HepTalk
Hepatitis C is not spread through breast
milk, food or water or by casual contact
such as hugging, kissing and sharing food
or drinks with an infected person.
#HepTalk
There is no vaccine for hepatitis C,
therefore prevention of HCV infection
depends upon reducing the risk of
exposure to the virus.
#HepTalk
In the U.S., Hepatitis C is at least four
times more prevalent than HIV/AIDS,
and Hepatitis C now kills more people
than AIDS
#HepTalk
A Hepatitis C test IS NOT part of a
routine physical exam or routine blood
work; you must ask to be tested!
#HepTalk
Hepatitis C is the leading cause of liver
transplants in the U.S.
#HepTalk
Of the different hepatitis C genotypes,
genotype 1 is the type most commonly
found in the United States. Between 70
to 90 percent of Americans with
hepatitis C have this genotype
#HepTalk
If symptoms occur, they can include:
fever, feeling tired, not wanting to eat,
upset stomach, throwing up, dark urine,
grey-colored stool, joint pain, and yellow
skin and eyes
#HepTalk
If symptoms occur with acute infection,
they can appear anytime from 2 weeks
to 6 months after infection. If symptoms
occur with chronic Hepatitis C, they can
take decades to develop.
#HepTalk
In 2012, there were an estimated
21,870 cases of acute Hepatitis C virus
infections reported in the United States.
#HepTalk
Approximately 15,000 people die every
year from Hepatitis C related liver
diseases.
#HepTalk
50%–90% of HIV-infected persons who
use injection drugs are also infected
with the Hepatitis C virus.
#HepTalk
Hepatitis C is sometimes referred to as
“a silent killer”
#HepTalk
The only way to know if you are infected
with Hepatitis C is to get tested.
#HepTalk
Approximately 75%–85% of people who
become infected with Hepatitis C virus
develop chronic infection.
#HepTalk
Treatment with antiviral medications
can cure HCV in many cases, but in some
parts of the world, access to the
necessary medical care is lacking.
#HepTalk
The Hepatitis C virus can survive outside
the body at room temperature, on
environmental surfaces, for up to 3
weeks.
#HepTalk
Experts cannot explain why
approximately 15%–25% of people who
get Hepatitis C will clear the virus from
their bodies without treatment and will
not develop chronic infection.
#HepTalk