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

• Hepatitis C is a virus that can damage your liver slowly over time.

Why is HIV-hepatitis C coinfection an issue?

Many people who are living with HIV also have been exposed to other infections, such as hepatitis C. Over half of people who acquire HIV through injecting drugs also acquire with hepatitis C. Hepatitis C infection may occur through unprotected sex. Overall, more than one third of all Americans with HIV have hepatitis C, too. Anyone known to have one of these viral infections will be checked for coinfection with the other virus.