Hepatitis C

• Loss of liver function (liver failure).
• Scarring of the liver (cirrhosis).
• Liver cancer.

People with hepatitis C often do not know for months or years that they have this condition. This is because they have no symptoms or may have only mild symptoms.

What are the causes?

• Contact with an infected person's blood, semen, or vaginal fluids.
• Childbirth. A woman who has hepatitis C can pass it to her baby during birth.
• Having received donated blood (blood transfusion) or an organ transplant that was done in the United States before 1992.

What increases the risk?

• Having contact with needles or syringes that have HCV on them (are contaminated). This may happen while injecting drugs, getting a tattoo or body piercing, or receiving acupuncture. Acupuncture is a treatment that inserts thin needles through your skin. Contact also may happen when you:
  • Have sex with someone who is infected. The virus can spread through vaginal, oral, or anal sex.
  • Receive treatment to filter your blood (kidney dialysis).
  • Have a job that involves contact with blood or body fluids, such as in health care.
• Having HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) or AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

What are the signs or symptoms?

• Tiredness (fatigue).
• Loss of appetite.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Pain in your abdomen.
• Dark yellow urine.
• Yellowing of your skin or the white parts of your eyes (jaundice).
• Itchy skin.
• Light-colored or tan stool.
• Joint pain.
• Bleeding and bruising that happen often.
• Fluid buildup in your stomach (ascites).

Often, hepatitis C causes no symptoms.

How is this diagnosed?

• Blood tests.
• Other tests that show how well your liver is working. These tests may include:
  • Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). This imaging test uses MRI and sound waves to measure liver stiffness.
  • Transient elastography. This imaging test uses ultrasound to measure liver stiffness.
  • Liver biopsy. In this test, a tissue sample is taken from your liver and looked at under a microscope.

How is this treated?

• Taking antiviral medicines and other medicines.
• Having follow-up treatments every 6–12 months for infections or other liver problems.
• Having a liver transplant.

Follow these instructions at home:

Medicines

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• If you were prescribed an antiviral medicine, take it as told by your health care provider. Do not stop using the antiviral even if you start to feel better.
• Do not take any new medicines, including over-the-counter medicines or supplements, unless your health care provider approves.

Activity

• Rest as needed.
• Do not have sex unless your health care provider approves.
• Avoid swimming or using hot tubs if you have open sores or wounds.
• Return to your normal activities as told by your health care provider. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you.
• Ask your health care provider when you may return to school or work.

Eating and drinking

• Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats or non-meat proteins, such as beans or tofu.
• Drink enough fluid to keep your urine pale yellow.
• Do not drink alcohol.

General instructions

• Do not share toothbrushes, nail clippers, or razors.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Cover any cuts or open sores on your skin to prevent spreading HCV.
• Keep all follow-up visits. This is important. You may need follow-up visits every 6–12 months.

How is this prevented?

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Do not share needles or syringes.
• Use a condom every time you have vaginal, oral, or anal sex. Latex condoms offer the best protection.
• Avoid handling blood or other body fluids without gloves or other protection.
• Avoid getting tattoos or body piercings in shops that are not clean.

Where to find more information

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/hepatitis
• World Health Organization: www.who.int

Contact a health care provider if you:

• Have a fever or chills.
• Have pain or swelling in your abdomen.
• Pass dark urine.
• Pass light-colored or tan stool.
• Have joint pain.

Get help right away if you:

• Have more fatigue.
• Lose your appetite.
• Cannot eat or drink without vomiting.
• Develop jaundice, or your jaundice gets worse.
• Bruise or bleed easily.

Summary

• Hepatitis C is a liver infection that is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV).
• This infection can lead to a loss of liver function (liver failure), scarring of the liver (cirrhosis), or liver cancer.
• HCV can spread from person to person (is contagious).
• Do not take any medicines, including over-the-counter medicines or supplements, unless your health care provider approves.