Topic Overview
What is hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a disease
caused by a
that infects the
. In time, it can lead to permanent liver damage
as well as
, liver cancer, and liver failure.
Many people don't know that they have hepatitis C until they already
have some liver damage. This can take many years. Some people who get hepatitis
C have it for a short time and then get better. This is called acute hepatitis
C. But most people who are infected with the virus go on to develop long-term,
or chronic, hepatitis C.
Although hepatitis C can be very serious,
most people can manage the disease and lead active, full lives.
What causes hepatitis C infection?
Hepatitis C is
caused by the hepatitis C virus. It is spread by contact with an infected
person's blood.
You can get hepatitis C if:
- You share needles and other equipment used to
inject illegal drugs. This is the most common way to get hepatitis C in the
United States.
- You had a blood transfusion or organ transplant
before 1992. As of 1992 in the United States, all donated blood and organs are
screened for hepatitis C.
- You get a shot with a needle that has infected blood on it.
This happens in some developing countries where they use needles more than once
when giving shots.
- You get a tattoo or a piercing with a needle
that has infected blood on it. This can happen if equipment isn't cleaned
properly after it is used.
In rare cases, a mother with hepatitis C spreads the
virus to her baby at birth, or a health care worker is accidentally exposed to
blood that is infected with hepatitis C.
Experts aren't sure if
you can get hepatitis C through sexual contact. If there is a risk of getting
the virus through sexual contact, it is very small. The risk is
higher if you have many sex
partners.
You
cannot get hepatitis C from casual contact such as
hugging, kissing, sneezing, coughing, or sharing food or drink.
What are the symptoms?
Most people have no
symptoms when they are first infected with the hepatitis C virus. If you do
develop symptoms, they may include:
- Feeling very tired.
- Joint
pain.
- Belly pain.
- Itchy skin.
- Sore
muscles.
- Dark urine.
- Yellowish eyes and skin (). Jaundice usually appears only after other
symptoms have started to go away.