Can you have HIV and Hep C at the same time?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 21% of people with HIV in the United States also have HCV. Infection with both HIV and HCV is called HIV/HCV coinfection. In people with HIV/HCV coinfection, HIV may cause chronic HCV to advance faster.

Can Hep C be cured if you have HIV?

Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) medicines can cure most people with hepatitis C regardless of age, sex, race or HIV status.

How common is HIV HCV coinfection?

In the United States, approximately 5% of adults with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have coinfection with HIV. [1] Among persons living with HIV in the United States, an estimated 15 to 30% have HCV coinfection, but these rates vary significantly based on the individual’s risk factor for acquiring HIV.

What are the initial symptoms of HIV and HCV?

Some of the common symptoms experienced by HIV-infected adults include fever, night sweats, diarrhea, nausea, headache, and fatigue (Johnson et al., 2003; Wu et al., 2004). In contrast, reports of symptoms associated with HCV infection (without cirrhosis) have been somewhat inconsistent.

Can people with HIV get HCV through sexual contact?

The risk of HCV infection through sexual contact is low, but the risk increases in people with HIV. Condoms also reduce the risk of HIV transmission and infection with other sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea and syphilis. Should people with HIV get tested for HCV?

What are the symptoms of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection?

Most people with acute HCV do not have symptoms. But some people can show signs of HCV soon after becoming infected. Symptoms of acute HCV can include the following: Most people with chronic HCV do not have any symptoms. Chronic HCV is often discovered based on results from routine liver function tests.

What does a positive HCV antibody test mean?

This test checks for HCV antibodies in the blood. HCV antibodies are disease-fighting proteins that the body produces in response to HCV infection. A positive result on an HCV antibody test means that the person has been exposed to HCV at some point in their life. However, a positive antibody test does not necessarily mean the person has HCV.

What happens if HCV is not treated?

Without treatment, chronic HCV can cause liver cancer or severe liver damage that can lead to liver failure. HCV is a contagious infection that can spread from person to person. How does HCV spread from person to person?