For more information on this
investigation, see Hepatitis Investigation at
Pain Clinic, 2010-2011,
Questions and
Answers,
English /
Spanish .
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)Hepatitis C is a contagious liver disease that
results from infection with the Hepatitis C virus
(germ). When first infected, a person can develop an
"acute" HCV, which can range in severity from a very
mild illness with few or no symptoms to a serious
condition requiring hospitalization.
Acute HCV is a short term-term illness that occurs
within the first 6 months after someone is exposed to
the hepatitis C virus (germ). For reasons that are not
known, 15%--25% of people "clear" the virus (germ)
without treatment. Approximately 75%--85% of people who
become infected with the HCV virus (germ) develop
"chronic," or lifelong, infection.
Chronic HCV is a long-term illness that occurs when
the HCV remeins in a person's body. Over time, it can
lead to serious liver problems, including liver damage,
cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer.
- For every 100 people infected with HCV
- 75--85 will develop chronic HCV
- 60--70 will develop chronic liver disease
- 5--20 will develop cirrhosis of the liver
- 1--5 will die of cirrhosis of the liver or
liver cancer
HCV is usually spread when blood from a person
infected with the hepatitis C virus (germ) enters the
body of someone who is not infected. Today, most people
become infected with with HCV by sharing needles or
other equipment to infect drugs. Before widespread
screening of the blood supply began in 1992, HCV was
also commonly spread through blood transfusions and
organ transplants. Although uncommon, outbreaks of HCV
have occurred from blood contamination in medical
settings.
Many people with HCV do not have symptoms and do not
know they are infected. Even though a person has no
symptoms, the virus (germ) can still be detected in the
blood.
If symptoms occur with acute infection, the can
appear anytime from 2 weeks to 6 months after exposure.
Symptoms of chronic HCV can take up to 30 years to
develop. Damage to the liver can silently occur during
this time. When symptoms do appear, they often are a
sign of advanced liver disease. Symptoms for both acute
and chronic HCV can include
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Dark urine
- Grey-colored stools
- Joint pain
- Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin)
Healthcare providers can diagnose HCV using specific
blood tests that are not part of blood work typically
done during regular physical exams. Typically, a person
first gets a screening test that looks for "antibodies"
to the HCV. Antibodies are chemicals released into the
bloodstream even the person clears the virus (germ). If
the screening test is positive for HCV antibodies,
different blood test are needed to determine whether the
infection has been cleared or has become a chronic
infection.
The
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH)
is investigating viral hepatitis infections in people who received intravenous
medication (injection of medications
into the vein) while receiving procedures at the Advanced Pain Treatment Center in San Pedro, California between January 16, 2006 and August 18, 2010. LACDPH recommends that
patients who received intravenous medication at this
clinic during that time to
contact their primary care
physicians or health care providers to get tested for
hepatitis B and hepatitis
C and HIV. LACDPH is notifying these people and their primary physicians or
healthcare providers (based on their medical records at
this clinic).