Hepatitis C Treatment Guidelines from WHO
Date published:
2014-04-16T00:00:00
Details:
The World Health Organisation has issued its first guidance for the treatment of hepatitis C. They were launched on the eve of the opening of the 2014 International Liver Congress, attended by around 10 000 delegates in London.
There are five main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E. Hepatitis B and C have the greatest public health impact because they cause chronic infection which can progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Hepatitis C affects an estimated 130 million to 150 million people and results in 350 000 to 500 000 deaths a year
The hepatitis C virus is most commonly transmitted through exposure to contaminated blood. Those at risk include people undergoing invasive medical procedures and therapeutic injections where there is poor infection control. Also at risk are those exposed to contaminated injecting and skin piercing equipment, including through injecting drug use, tattooing and body piercing.
The publication of the "WHO Guidelines for the screening, care and treatment of persons with hepatitis C infection" coincides with the availability of more effective and safer oral hepatitis medicines, along with the promise of even more new medicines in the next few years.
WHO will be working with countries to introduce the guidelines as part of their national treatment programmes. The nine key recommendations in the new guidance should help countries to improve treatment and care for hepatitis and thereby reduce deaths from liver cancer and cirrhosis.
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