Communicable disease

Hepatitis c
Name:
Institution
Introduction
Hepatitis C is among the most prevalent diseases in the world. It is an inflammatory disease that affects the liver and primarily caused by a virus hepatitis C virus i.e. HCV. Most of its victims never realize they are infected. However, for chronic cases the results are fatal. It may lead to liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and the effects are irreversible because even if a patient undergoes a liver transplant, the disease usually persists. The diseases infect approximately more than 140 million people in the world and the case studies get worse for the rate of infection in the developing world such as Egypt that has an annual infection rate of 20% (McCaughan et al, 2012). In the Unites States alone, it causes more deaths than HIV. Hence, this essay shall look at the chain of infection of hepatitis c, the treatment options available, and how medical personnel can assist patients in adhering to the said treatment.
Epidemiologic Statistics and Pertinent Laboratory Data
The statistics and laboratory data that exist for Hepatitis c are alarming and the exact figures need to be understood for effective measures against the chain of infection to be established. Currently more that 2.5 million cases of HCV infections are reported annually with those already infected as of 2010 being close to 190 million people. The number of reported deaths because of the infection of HCV is close to 400,000 victims annually from acute HCV cases while chronic HCV accounts for less than 20,000 in the same period (Tan & He, 2011). In secondary HCV related cases, close to 200,000 persons die annually from liver failure that can be either liver cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Laboratory data have shown that now more than ever, primarily irresponsible intravenous drug abuse and medical instruments that are not well sterilized cause new infection of HCV. Among the regions that record high numbers in terms of new infection, rates in...