Zusammenfassung

• Most common route of transmission is through illicit injection drug use.
• Following acute exposure, about 55% to 85% of patients develop chronic hepatitis C.
• Most infections are asymptomatic.
• Treatment usually includes pegylated interferon and ribavirin, with goal of eradicating viraemia. Triple therapy with pegylated interferon, ribavirin, and a hepatitis C protease inhibitor should be used for the most common genotype (genotype 1).
• Long-term complications include cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma.