Disclaimer: This is for the purpose of education only. Don’t try to self supplement or self medicate.
Managing Hepatitis C
The presentation of hepatitis C is elusive. The patient is often times asymptomatic. And that is an extremely Common presentation. Which leads me to my pneumonic.
Not really much of a pneumonic, But… I noticed a preponderance of the letter “C” when I started thinking about how to memorize all the clinical pearls of hepatitis C.
Transmission of Hepatitis C
Commonly, hepatitis C follows IV use of medications, especially drugs of abuse. Commonly, hepatitis C follows tattoos. Notice that I stress ‘commonly’… So take it easy body artists. Look up “commonly”… Obviously not uniformly or in any general way. Shared needles, things like that. And “Commonly,” hepatitis C can be considered a sexually transmitted disease. Often times, it is not passed on. But I would not hang my hat on that. Commonly, it will be passed on.
Clinical Conditions of Hepatitis C
Carrier. The carrier state occurs about 70% of the time. “Can’t” lead to fulminant hepatitis.
Cirrhosis occurs in 20% of Carriers.
Carcinoma is at higher risk in those patients.
Can’t be perinatally transmitted.
Conclusion
Commonly asymptomatic
Common IV/tattoos, Can STD
Carrier 70% (Can’t fulminant hepatitis)
Cirrhosis in 20% of carriers
Carcinoma in those
Can’t perinatal
Therapy? There is no post exposure prophylaxis like any kind of immunoglobulin you can use to prevent it if you have been exposed to it and didn’t have it to begin with.
If you have it, seek the help of a hepatologist today even if you are asymptomatic. It is treatable.
Chronic HCV? Old school treated this with interferon in conjunction with ribavirin. A lot of side effects. New school: direct acting antiviral drugs. Short course of therapy, little monitoring, very few side effects. Must consider comorbidity including STIs when treating including depression, pregnancy, drug interactions.
