InfectiousICD-10: B17.1About 2.4 million people in the U.S. have chronic hepatitis C
Hepatitis C
Also known as: Hep C, HCV Infection
Hepatitis C is a viral liver infection primarily spread through contact with infected blood. Chronic hepatitis C develops in more than half of infected individuals and can silently damage the liver for decades. Modern direct-acting antiviral medications have cure rates exceeding 95% in most patients.
Symptoms
Often asymptomatic for years or decades
Fatigue and weakness
Nausea and loss of appetite
Abdominal pain near the liver
Dark urine
Jaundice in later stages
Joint and muscle pain
Easy bruising or bleeding in advanced disease
Causes
- HCV transmitted through blood-to-blood contact
- Sharing needles or injection drug equipment
- Blood transfusions before 1992
- Healthcare needle stick injuries
- Less commonly through sexual contact or mother-to-child transmission
Risk Factors
- Current or past injection drug use
- Blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992
- Long-term hemodialysis
- Born to an HCV-infected mother
- Healthcare workers with needle stick exposure
- Born between 1945 and 1965
Diagnosis
- Anti-HCV antibody screening test
- HCV RNA confirmatory test
- HCV genotype testing to guide treatment
- Liver fibrosis assessment (FibroScan, FIB-4 score, or biopsy)
- Liver function tests
Treatment
- Direct-acting antiviral medications (sofosbuvir/velpatasvir, glecaprevir/pibrentasvir)
- Treatment duration typically 8–12 weeks
- Cure rates exceed 95%
- Liver transplant for decompensated cirrhosis
- Ongoing liver cancer surveillance even after cure if cirrhosis was present
Prevention
- Avoid sharing needles or injection equipment
- Ensure proper sterilization of medical and tattooing equipment
- Practice safe sex
- Get screened if you have any risk factors
When to See a Doctor
- You have risk factors and have never been tested
- You were born between 1945 and 1965
- You develop symptoms such as fatigue, jaundice, or abdominal pain
- You have been diagnosed and need treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
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