HEPATITIS C

Most people experience no symptoms

Some people may have acute hepatitis with nausea, dark urine, jaundice, abdominal discomfort, fatigue

The likelihood of transmission via sex is generally low.

Sexual transmission has been recorded between cis men and cis women living with HIV as well as transgender women but is believed to be rare.

However, sexual transmission between GBMSM (cis and trans) living with HIV is relatively common and has also been reported between GBMSM (cis and trans) not living with HIV

25% of people with acute hepatitis C infection will clear the virus spontaneously within 6 to 12 months.

Those with chronic infection who are untreated will remain infectious until treated.

Cure
Engage people living with hepatitis C into treatment and effective clearance.

Counselling and testing (antibodies may take up to 6 months to develop)
Referral for investigation and treatment if HCV antibody positive and HCV RNA positive See National HCV Testing Policy
Sex or injecting partners of people with Hepatitis C infection should be should be encouraged to be tested

High for needle-sharing contacts, current blood donors (12 months prior to testing HCV Ab+) and blood donor recipients before 1990.

High for children born to an infected mother (5% risk of transmission.

Low for sexual contacts but higher for GBMSM living with HIV.

Low if RNA test negative

Acute viral hepatitis C is notifiable by all doctors in all Australian states and territories, and New Zealand.

If the index patient has received or donated blood within 6 months of developing symptoms, also advise the relevant blood bank