What is HIV/hepatitis C coinfection?

Coinfection is a medical term meaning that you have two or more infections in your body at the same time. If you have HIV and hepatitis C coinfection, then you have both HIV and hepatitis C. These illnesses are very different, so it is important that you learn about both of them.

HIV is spread mainly through the blood and through sexual contact. It can wear down your body's immune system, making it hard for your body to fight off dangerous infections.

Hepatitis C is a disease that affects your liver. It is caused by a virus called the hepatitis C virus and it is spread mainly by blood, but rarely by sex. In many cases, if you have hepatitis C, it never goes away. Over time, it can cause other health problems, such as cirrhosis (or scarring of the liver) and liver cancer.

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