Hcvinprison.org
Title
National HCV Prison Coalition - Hepatitis C Awareness Project
Description
Hepatitis C is a blood borne virus that was previously referred to as non-A/non-B hepatitis. It is an enveloped RNA virus in the flaviviridae family which appears to have a narrow host range. Humans and chimpanzees are the only known species susceptible to infection, with both species developing similar disease. It was not until 1992 that a reliable blood test was developed to identify the antibody against the hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV enters the body through direct blood exposure and attacks and kills liver cells where it multiplies. This process causes inflammation in the liver and results in the death of liver cells. The incubation period varies from two to 26 weeks. Many people report little or no initial symptoms during the acute phase. However, mild flu-like symptoms including nausea, fatigue, fever, headaches, loss of appetite and abdominal pain can occur. A minority of individuals report severe flu-like symptoms with jaundice and/or dark urine.
It is believed that as many as 85% of people initially infected with HCV become chronically infected – if the person does not clear the infection within a 6 month period. The disease will then progress over a period of 10-40 years with some individuals sustaining liver damage that will lead to cirrhosis and/ or liver cancer and may require liver transplantation. However, many people do not have symptoms and are leading relatively normal lives.
Contact
- Not Applicable
-
- Eugene OR
- US 97404-0520
-
- +1.1231231234
Logos
