| Hepatitis C (HCV) is the virus that causes the liver disease Hepatitis C.
In persons infected by HCV the virus is found primarily in the blood. Hepatitis C can be both a short-term (acute) illness, and an ongoing (chronic) infection that may gradually damage the liver. An estimated 75-85% of HCV-infected persons will develop chronic infection. In the US chronic HCV is the most common reason for liver transplantation
HCV is spread mainly by exposure to blood and blood products.
HCV is spread when the blood of an infected person enters the body of a person who is not infected. Mainly this involves direct passage of blood through the skin i.e. sharing needles or “works” when injecting drugs. Much less often, sexual or mother-to-child transmission may occur. It is not spread by casual contact such as hugging, sharing food utensils, or sharing a bathroom. HCV is not spread by breastfeeding.
Persons at highest risk for infection include people who:
- Ever used illegal injection drugs (even if only once or just a few times, long ago)
- Received blood transfusions, blood products, or donated organ or tissue before June 1992
- Received clotting factors made before 1987
Other risk groups include:
- Long-term dialysis patients
- Healthcare workers who have a blood exposure (i.e. needlestick) to an infected person on the job
- People born to a HCV-infected mother
- Those who have had multiple sex partners, high-risk sexual behavior, and/or sexually transmitted disease
- One notified that he/she received blood from a donor who later tested positive for HCV
Symptoms to look for
- Fatigue
- Yellow skin and eyes (jaundice)
- Loss of appetite
- Dark-colored urine
- Nausea and vomiting
- Joint Pain
- Abdominal pain
- Clay-colored stool
Many persons have no symptoms of HCV infection. If a person is exposed to HCV, symptoms may appear about 6 to 8 weeks later, but this time period can vary among individuals. Some persons find out they are infected after lab tests are done (for example, after giving blood).
Diagnosis depends on a blood test.
Testing for HCV is recommended if a person is in one or more of the increased risk categories listed above or has an undiagnosed liver problem. When you test positive for anti-HCV (screening test), it means you have been infected with HCV. It does not tell you whether you currently have HCV. Most people will still have the virus six months after infection (chronic), but 15-25% of persons have antibodies, but not the virus. In these people the immune system was able to get rid of the virus. Generally a confirmation test is indicated.
Treatment is available for some people with HCV.
Two drugs, interferon and ribavirin, can be used to treat HCV. The treatment is effective in 10-40% of persons. Doctors will help decide who should be treated and can explain how to protect the liver, for example, by not drinking alcohol and avoiding certain medicines.
Prevent hepatitis C by avoiding exposure and practicing good hygiene.
Injecting drug users should not share needles or works with others. The use of latex condoms may decrease the risk of catching or passing HCV through sex.
Persons with hepatitis C should get vaccination against hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
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