Hepatitis C (also called "hep C") is a ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus that attacks the liver and can cause fibrosis, cirrhosis, and even carcinoma. In addition to damaging the liver, hepatitis C can also cause damage to other parts of the body, from blood issues to the kidneys, joints, and skin.
Causes, Risk Factors, and Treatment for Hepatitis C
There are about 170 million people worldwide who are infected with HCV (the hepatitis C virus). The most common infection comes from exposure to blood that contains the virus. Many people who test positive for hep C have no idea how they contracted the virus and deny all risk factors for exposure. Of those exposed, up to 85% will develop a chronic infection. Among those who are chronically infected with hep C, after 10-20 years, about 20% will develop cirrhosis.
The risk assessment for hepatitis C varies according to factors such as: the time frame since the person was exposed, the lab testing (specifically, liver function tests), whether a biopsy was performed, alcohol or drug use, and response to treatment. A detailed history is helpful and allows us to give the best possible idea of potential offers from the carriers.
With appropriate treatment, a hepatitis C infection can be cured. Typically, treatment is going to be recommended for patients with more than 6 months of elevated liver function tests and RNA levels. The most common form of treatment is with interferon (which is injected) and/or oral ribavirin. The response to treatment depends on a number of factors, some of which include the extent of fibrosis seen on a biopsy, the amount of hep c virus detected in the blood, and which of the six known genotypes of hep C that the applicant has.
In next blogpost, we will discuss life insurance underwriting for Hep C.