Hepatitis C is an infection caused by a virus that attacks the liver and leads to inflammation. Most people infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) have no symptoms. In fact, most people don't know they have the hepatitis C infection until liver damage shows up, decades later, during routine medical tests.
Hepatitis C is one of several hepatitis viruses and is generally considered to be among the most serious of these viruses. Hepatitis C is passed through contact with contaminated blood — most commonly through needles shared during illegal drug use.
Hepatitis C infection usually produces no signs or symptoms during its earliest stages. When signs and symptoms do occur, they may include:
FatigueFeverNausea or poor appetiteMuscle and joint painsYellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any signs and symptoms that worry you.
CAUSES
Hepatitis C infection is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV is spread when you come in contact with blood contaminated with the virus.
COMPLICATIONS
Hepatitis C infection that continues over many years can cause significant complications, such as:
DIAGNOSIS
Testing for hepatitis C infection in people who have a high risk of coming in contact with the virus may help doctors begin treatment or recommend lifestyle changes that may slow liver damage. This is recommended because hepatitis C infection often begins damaging the liver before it causes signs and symptoms.
People who may want to talk to their doctors about screening for hepatitis C infection include:
Anyone who has ever injected illicit drugsAnyone with unexplained, unusual liver function test resultsBabies born to mothers with hepatitis CHealth care and emergency workers who have been exposed to blood or accidental needle sticksPeople with hemophilia who were treated with clotting factors before 1987People who have ever undergone long-term hemodialysis treatmentsPeople who received blood transfusions or organ transplants before 1992Sexual partners of anyone diagnosed with hepatitis C infectionPeople with HIV infectionAnyone born from 1945 to 1965
Blood tests to diagnose hepatitis C
Blood tests may help to:
Determine whether you have the hepatitis C virusMeasure the quantity of the hepatitis C virus in your blood (viral load)Evaluate the genetic makeup of the virus (genotyping), which helps determine your treatment options
Testing samples of liver tissue to determine severity of liver damage
Your doctor may also recommend a procedure to remove a small sample of liver tissue for laboratory testing. A liver biopsy can help determine the severity of the disease and guide treatment decisions. During a liver biopsy, your doctor inserts a thin needle through your skin and into your liver to remove the tissue sample.
TREATMENT
A diagnosis of hepatitis C infection doesn't necessarily mean you need treatment. If your doctor recommends no treatment, you'll undergo follow-up blood tests to monitor for liver problems.
Antiviral medications
Hepatitis C infection is treated with antiviral medications intended to clear the virus from your body. Your doctor may recommend a combination of medications taken over several weeks.
Throughout treatment your doctor will monitor your response to medications.
Antiviral medications can cause depression and flu-like signs and symptoms, such as fatigue, fever and headache. Some side effects can be serious enough that treatment must be delayed or stopped in certain cases.
Liver transplant
If your liver has been severely damaged, a liver transplant may be an option. During a liver transplant, the surgeon removes your damaged liver and replaces it with a healthy liver. Most transplanted livers come from deceased donors, though a small number come from living donors who donate a portion of their livers.
For people with hepatitis C infection, a liver transplant is not a cure. Treatment with antiviral medications usually continues after a liver transplant, since hepatitis C infection is likely to recur in the new liver.
Vaccinations to protect against other forms of viral hepatitis
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