Who is affected by hepatitis C?

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Who is affected by hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is the most common blood-borne infection in the United States. It affects at least 4 million people in the U.S. and 175 million people worldwide.

It is not always clear how a person becomes infected with hepatitis C. However, it is estimated that:

Between 60% and 90% of people who get hepatitis C are those who have been repeatedly exposed to infected blood. These include injection drug users and people with hemophilia who were treated with blood clotting factor concentrates before 1987.
Between 10% and 20% of people who have received hemodialysis for kidney problems are infected with hepatitis C.
Less than 5% of people are infected because of high-risk sexual behavior.
About 1% of people, such as health care workers, become infected through accidental exposure to infected blood.¹

References

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Citations
American Academy of Pediatrics (2006). Hepatitis C. In LK Pickering, ed., Red Book: 2006 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases, 27th ed., pp. 355–359. Elk Grove, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.

Credits

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Author	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Pat Truman, MATC
Primary Medical Reviewer	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	W. Thomas London, MD - Hepatology
Last Updated	August 27, 2007

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Last updated:	August 27, 2007
Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, W. Thomas London, MD - Hepatology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC

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