About Hepatitis C

In this section, you can learn about the following topics:

• Facts and Figures
• Risk Factors
• Getting Tested
• About Your Liver
• Acute vs. Chronic Hepatitis
• How Hepatitis is Spread

What are the Causes of Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). You may want to watch our video "What is Hepatitis C".

The disease affects about 4 million people in the United States and about 170 million people worldwide, making it much more common than HIV infection. Each year, there are about 35,000 new cases of hepatitis C infection.

Leading Cause of Liver Disease. In fact, hepatitis C is now the leading cause of liver disease in the United States and the number one reason for liver transplantation. The number of people with chronic HCV infection is expected to increase fourfold from 1990-2015. Each year, about 8,000 to 10,000 people die from the disease.

The virus enters the liver cells and uses their inner genetic machinery to make copies of itself. Those copies then infect more cells, and the cycle repeats. In a very small percentage of cases (15%), the infection is acute, meaning it is cleared spontaneously by the body and there are no long-term consequences. Unfortunately, in 85% of cases, the infection becomes chronic and slowly damages the liver over many years.

Over time, this liver damage can lead to serious consequences, including cirrhosis (or scarring) of the liver, end-stage liver disease and some types of liver cancer.

How is Hepatitis C Spread?

Hepatitis C is spread through exposure to HCV-infected blood, which may occur through intravenous drug use, blood or blood product transfusions, tattooing with contaminated needles/ink, infected hemodialysis equipment, needlestick injuries, high-risk sexual behavior, or other routes. Roughly 10% of people with hepatitis C never find out how they got the disease.

What are some of the Symptoms of Hepatitis C?

People with hepatitis C infection usually do not have characteristic disease symptoms. Unlike other forms of viral hepatitis, hepatitis C infection usually does not result in jaundice. When symptoms do appear, they may be vague and include tiredness, stomach pain, and rash. Because HCV infection often has no symptoms, many people do not know they have hepatitis C and may be infecting others. The only way to know if you have it is to get a blood test for hepatitis C.

How do I Get Tested for Hepatitis C?

The only way to find out whether you're infected with hepatitis C virus is by getting a blood test for it. You may want to watch our video "Getting Tested for Hepatitis C".

What Treatment Options exist for Hepatitis C?

The good news is that hepatitis C is treatable with currently available treatments. You may want to watch our video "Getting Treated for Hepatitis C".

You can turn to The Be In Charge® Program for a vast amount of additional information and support as you manage your hepatitis C treatment. Sign up now for this tremendous support tool.