Hepatitis C: a current perspective.

: This article covers several dilemmas posed by hepatitis C for the family physician. It is proposed that patients with known risk factors, such as injecting drug use or blood transfusion, be treated for an anti HCV. The problems of counselling the patient with an incidental positive anti HCV test are discussed; at present, the history of risk factors and liver test results are the most important aspects as there is no gold standard for hepatitis C diagnosis. Family and sexual transmission of HCV are rare; only mothers with extremely high levels of HCV viraemia are likely to transmit HCV to their offspring. Decisions about interferon treatment for hepatitis C require consideration of the natural history of this disease, the chances of a long-term response to treatment, and the adverse affects of interferon. Screening for hepatocellular carcinoma is proposed for patients who already have cirrhosis.