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Hepatitis C
 
 
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Hepatitis C

hepatitis C virusHepatitis C is a blood-borne viral infection. Rarely it can also be passed on through other body fluids. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) and may also cause long term liver damage.  

Who gets it and how serious is it?

As the virus may be transmitted by contact with blood from an infected person, certain people may be at a higher risk of acquiring hepatitis C. These include:

  • Injecting drug users who share needles
  • Those coming into contact with blood products i.e. healthcare workers, prison officers
  • Babies born to infected mothers (occurs in less than 10% of cases)
  • People who received a blood transfusion before 1991 in the UK or in a country that does not screen its blood for the virus.

Hepatitis C is spread by saliva or during sexual intercourse very rarely, if at all. Body piercing or tattooing using unsterilised equipment can spread the virus.

Around 15-20% of infected people will clear the hepatitis C virus from their body naturally within the first 6 months of infection. For the remainder, hepatitis C is a chronic infection that can span several decades and can be life-long.

For these individuals, the outcome of infection is extremely variable. Many people never develop any signs or symptoms of liver disease in their lifetime and consequently may not even know that they have been infected. However, approximately 20% will develop cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver within 10-30 years resulting in liver failure.

Chronic hepatitis C is also associated with an increased risk of developing liver cancer.

Treatment 

Treatments for hepatitis C are available and can clear the virus in approximately 40% of those treated. Even if the treatment does not clear the virus, it may still slow down the progression of inflammation and liver damage. Treatment usually lasts for six or twelve months.

How common is it?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that there are 170 million carriers of hepatitis C worldwide. On a global scale, the United Kingdom is considered to be a relatively low prevalence country.  

In Wales there is an estimated 12,000 people with chronic hepatitis C giving a prevalence of 0.4% of the population. The majority of infections have occurred in injecting drug users through the sharing of blood-contaminated needles and other equipment 

Prevention

There is no vaccine to protect against hepatitis C. Injecting drug users should not share injecting equipment and individuals who undergo body piercing or tattooing should ensure that disposable sterile needles are used.

Since 1991, all blood donated in the UK is screened for the hepatitis C virus.

 Minimising impact in Wales

The NPHS has established the Blood Borne Virus Programme which collects and collates data on the levels of blood borne viral infections, including hepatitis C, in the Welsh population. Such data allows significant trends and any particular groups of the population affected to be identified, and assists in the effective delivery of high quality, accessible and appropriate specialist public health services, both in partnership and support of other national and local bodies.


Last updated: 16/06/2008