Hepatitis C Overview

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Questions and Answers

What immunization is recommended for all patients with chronic HCV infection?

Human Papillomavirus vaccine

Pneumococcal vaccine

Hepatitis A and B vaccines (correct)

Influenza vaccine

What condition is NOT accelerated in progression of liver disease among children with chronic HCV infection?

Iron overload

Childhood cancer

Asthma (correct)

HIV

Which monitoring is essential for children with chronic HCV infection?

Regular ECG examinations

Monitoring of blood glucose levels

Sequential monitoring of serum alanine transaminase concentrations (correct)

Sequential monitoring of serum creatinine levels

What therapy is contraindicated for postexposure prophylaxis against HCV infection due to lack of clinical efficacy?

Immune globulin Signup and view all the answers

Which factor increases liver-related morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic HCV infection?

Advancing age Signup and view all the answers

What is NOT considered an adverse effect of traditional therapies for HCV?

Severe dehydration Signup and view all the answers

Which statement regarding breastfeeding is true for mothers infected with HCV?

HCV transmission by breastfeeding has not been documented. Signup and view all the answers

What is recommended for the management of pediatric patients with HCV infection?

Close monitoring and following published guidelines Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason highly sensitive quantitative assays have replaced qualitative assays for measuring HCV RNA?

Quantitative assays provide information on drug treatment regimens. Signup and view all the answers

What proportion of the general population in the United States is estimated to have chronic HCV infection?

1.3% Signup and view all the answers

Why is HCV genotyping important in treatment protocols?

To determine which antiviral agents should be used. Signup and view all the answers

What is the recommended age for serologic testing for HCV in perinatally infected infants?

18 months Signup and view all the answers

Which group is most likely to experience acute HCV cases according to reported data?

Young nonurban white individuals Signup and view all the answers

What should be done if a perinatally HCV-exposed infant is not followed until 18 months of age?

Consider performing quantitative RNA tests as early as 1 to 2 months. Signup and view all the answers

Which method is primarily responsible for HCV transmission among children?

Maternal-fetal transmission Signup and view all the answers

What should patients diagnosed with HCV infection be referred for?

Clinical monitoring and potential enrollment in clinical trials. Signup and view all the answers

What is the estimated risk of HCV infection after blood transfusion in the United States?

1 in 2 million units Signup and view all the answers

According to seroprevalence data, which region has the highest prevalence of chronic HCV infection worldwide?

Northern Africa Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a disadvantage of traditional therapies such as interferon-based treatments?

They can have significant adverse reactions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the current standard of care therapy for adults with HCV?

Interferon-free direct-acting antiviral drug regimens. Signup and view all the answers

What is the most notable preventive measure to reduce the risk of HCV transmission during blood transfusions?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

Which demographic in the United States has seen a substantial increase in HCV infection rates?

Non-urban young white individuals Signup and view all the answers

What should be done if the initial quantitative HCV RNA result is negative for an infant?

Serologic testing should be performed at 18 months. Signup and view all the answers

What factor is often related to the prevalence of HCV among various populations?

Risk factors associated with behavior Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection signs and symptoms are similar to other hepatitis types
Acute HCV is often mild and asymptomatic
Jaundice occurs in less than 20% of patients
Serum alanine transaminase levels are usually less pronounced than in hepatitis B
Up to 80% of children experience persistent HCV infection, often without symptoms
Chronic HCV infection and cirrhosis are less common in children than adults
Liver failure due to HCV is a leading cause of liver transplants in adults
HCV is a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus in the Flaviviridae family
At least 7 genotypes and more than 50 subtypes of HCV exist
Genotype 1a is prevalent in the United States
HCV transmission primarily occurs through percutaneous exposure to infected blood
Injection drug use and blood transfusions before 1992 are common risk factors for adults
Maternal-fetal transmission is a common route for children
Antibody testing and nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) are used for diagnosis
HCV RNA can be detected 1-2 weeks after exposure
97% sensitivity and >99% specificity for third-generation immunoassays
Testing for HCV RNA is recommended as follow up for serologic results
HCV RNA tests can be used to monitor treatment response
Many current therapies are oral, once-daily, and effective
Treatment generally aims for a sustained virologic response (cure)
HCV infection increases risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer (HCC) with increasing age
Other conditions (e.g., HIV, cancer, iron overload) can increase HCV disease progression rates
Immunoprophylaxis is not recommended for HCV
Breastfeeding is safe for HCV-infected mothers
Children with HCV infection should not be excluded from child care
HCV testing is recommended for high-risk individuals (e.g., injection drug use history individuals born between 1945-1965) and those with symptoms/risk factors
Pregnant women should be tested due to potential for transmission
Children born to HCV-positive mothers may develop HCV, increasing with higher HCV RNA levels in the mother
Appropriate testing time for infants is after maternal antibody levels have subsided (~18 months).

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Description

This quiz covers the key aspects of Hepatitis C infection, including its symptoms, transmission routes, and prevalence among different age groups. Learn about the characteristics of the Hepatitis C virus, including its genotypes and the impact on liver health. Test your knowledge on this important infectious disease.