Naslov
Hepatitis C virus infection: epidemiology, risk factors and prevention strategies

Autori
Miškulin, Maja

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
2nd International monothematic conference on viral hepatitis C (IMC-HCV-2015) / Smolić, Martina ; Včev, Aleksandar ; Wu, George Y - Osijek : University of Osijek, Faculty of Medicine Osijek, 2015

Skup
2nd International monothematic conference on viral hepatitis C (IMC-HCV-2015)

Mjesto i datum
Lug, Hrvatska, 24.09.2015. - 27.09.2015

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Pozvano predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
hepatitis C virus infection; epidemiology; risk factors; prevention

Sažetak
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is endemic worldwide and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are about 150 million chronic carriers worldwide. The infection is a leading cause of liver diseases like cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ; thus, HCV infection constitutes a critical public health problem. The prevalence of hepatitis C infection varies substantially around the world. The estimated prevalence of HCV infection is highest in Central and East Asia and in the North Africa/Middle East regions. There are defined risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection, such as transfusions of HCV-infected blood, contaminated injections during medical procedures, and injection drug use. However, the risk for HCV transmission by sexual or interfamilial contact is not well established. According to the WHO, viral hepatitis is not being addressed seriously, since the early stages of the disease are silent and because of the insidious way in which chronic liver disease is caused. Many HCV-infected patients are unaware of their disease, and the number of people who have been infected with this virus might be underestimated. Therefore, morbidity and mortality related to hepatitis C are likely to increase over the next years. Prevention of HCV infection depends upon reducing the risk of exposure to the virus. This is challenging because of the various routes of transmission and the different populations that are affected. Worldwide eradication of HCV is possible through a combination of prevention education, universal clinical and targeted community screening, effective linkage to care, and treatment with promising new direct-acting antiviral drug regimens.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Javno zdravstvo i zdravstvena zaštita

POVEZANOST RADA