The figures are generally higher in developing countries. Infection is certainly more common in individuals with multiple sex partners, but that may be related to other risk factors. The CDC has not recommended specific changes in sexual practices in couples where one partner is infected. Intravenous drug abuse 2. High-risk sexual behaviour 5.
Few individuals develop jaundice.
Chronic infection is defined as the persistence of HCV RNA in the serum with or without raised aminotransferase enzymes. The great majority of individuals who develop liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma have underlying cirrhosis. The two most commonly recognized complications of chronic HCV infection are mixed cryoglobulinaemia and glomeru-lonephritis related to small vessel vasculitis. A host of other diseases have also been ascribed to chronic HCV infection, although in some cases their association may be rather tenuous. Earlier serological tests using only one or two viral proteins were subject to frequent false positives.