Aspects of care for the hepatitis C positive patient.
BACKGROUND
With almost 200,000 infected Australians, hepatitis C is Australia's commonest life threatening chronic infection.


OBJECTIVE
Over 90% of the 11,000 new infections in Australia each year are associated with injecting drug use. Australia does not have a national plan for achieving control of hepatitis C. Treatment at present is expensive, less effective than many other conditions and associated with considerable side effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Most people with chronic hepatitis C infection have a normal life expectancy with good quality of life. The role of general practitioners in prevention and treatment is increasing.
Wodak
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Alcohol and Drug Service, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales.
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents