Treatment and Management of Tropical Liver Disease - Chapter 3: Hepatitis C infection

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is hepatotropic viral hepatitis affecting the liver. It is mainly transmitted by percutaneous route with contact from sharp objects and blood products. Most patients are asymptomatic, and diagnosis is made by serologic tests followed by virologic confirmatory tests. The infection could result in chronic hepatitis and associated life-threatening complications such as decompensated cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Extrahepatic manifestations (i.e., cryoglobulinemia, lichen planus, etc.) are more common than in other forms of viral hepatitis. Although not vaccine preventable, it can now be successfully treated with newly discovered oral directly acting antivirals (DAAs).