Olivera MMA

Language: English
References: 13
Page: 29-31
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At present, hepatitis C is considered the main cause of liver disease in the Western world. Estimates show that 170,000,000 individuals worldwide (3% of world population) have the disease. Although most attention has been given to chronic hepatitis C, an acute form of the disease has also been detected.
The main route of transmission of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) was via transfusion with contaminated blood or blood derivatives, but the frequency of infection via this route has decreased since the 1990s, when screening of all donated blood for HCV was introduced. Although the incidence of HCV infection is decreasing, the prevalence of this disease is increasing continuously. This is due mainly to the long interval (sometimes more than 20 years) between detection of the infection and development of symptoms of chronic liver disease. Even though the HCV can be transmitted via several routes, development of the infection depends greatly on reexposure to the virus or percutaneous entry of a large amount of the virus. For this reason, individuals most susceptible to hepatitis C are either addicted to intravenous drugs, have multiple tattoos or body piercings, or are health workers who have been injured with needles or other sharp elements.

REFERENCES

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