HIV and Hep C Co-Infection

When a person is infected with two or more diseases, it’s called co-infection. Hep C is the most common co-infection in people with HIV. If you have HIV, you might be getting treatment and feeling OK. But getting Hep C can make you sicker.

Having both diseases cause the body to work much harder, especially when processing medication. HIV destroys the immune system, while Hep C causes the liver to not function properly.

Hep C might make your HIV medications ineffective. Liver disease (which is caused by Hep C) is now one of the leading causes of hospitalization and death in people with HIV / AIDS.

The good news? There are drug combinations and other therapies that treat Hep C for many people with HIV. There are also support groups. But you can’t get treatment or support unless you get tested.