Hepatitis - Viral | Hepatitis C

Rare cause of acute hepatitis

Your Path

  • Hepatitis - Viral | Hepatitis C

Etiology

  • Chronic viral infection

Risk Factors

  • Sexual (rare)
  • Baby boomers
  • HIV
  • Spread via needles (e.g. shared during IVDU)
  • Unscreened blood transfusion
  • Cocaine inhaling tools
  • Needle sticks in health care workers
  • Vertical: Mother to baby (in-utero)
  • Unclean tattooing needles

Symptoms

  • Most w/acute hep C are asymptomatic - if symptomatic: RUQ pain, fever, malaise, jaundice
  • 10-20% resolve spontaneously
  • Long term risk cirrhosis w/associated ascites, confusion, edema, bleeding
  • Risk of HCC w/chronic infection

Physical Exam Findings

  • Most have no findings in acute phase