Left untreated, chronic hepatitis C can cause serious health problems including liver disease, liver failure, liver cancer, and even death. The hepatitis C virus is usually spread when someone comes into contact with blood from an infected person. This can happen through:. Many people with hepatitis C do not have symptoms and do not know they are infected. If symptoms occur, they can include: yellow skin or eyes, not wanting to eat, upset stomach, throwing up, stomach pain, fever, dark urine, light-colored stool, joint pain, and feeling tired.
If symptoms occur with a new infection, they usually appear within 2 to 12 weeks, but can take up to 6 months to develop. People with chronic hepatitis C can live for years without symptoms or feeling sick. When symptoms appear with chronic hepatitis C, they often are a sign of advanced liver disease. A blood test called a hepatitis C antibody test can tell if you have been infected with the hepatitis C virus—either recently or in the past.
If you have a positive antibody test, another blood test is needed to tell if you are still infected or if you were infected in the past and cleared the virus on your own. Getting tested for hepatitis C is important to find out if you are infected and get lifesaving treatment. Treatments are available that can cure most people with hepatitis C in 8 to 12 weeks.
Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Viral Hepatitis. Complete Directory. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, visit VeteransCrisisLine. Quick Links. How is hepatitis A spread? Who is at risk? All rights reserved. Always consult your doctor about your medical conditions. Use of the site is conditional upon your acceptance of our terms of use.
How Hepatitis C is Spread. By Karen Hoyt September 14, Share to Facebook Share to Twitter email print page Bookmark for later comment 0 Reactions 0 reactions. The most common way that hep C can spread The most common way that hep C can spread from person to person is by sharing needles.
Less common ways Some less common ways that hepatitis C can spread include During childbirth : In rare cases, a mother who has hep C may transmit the virus to her unborn child. Blood transfusion : With increased blood bank testing, the risk is extremely low Dental procedures : Increased monitoring has reduced dental office transmission by using stringent cleaning procedures, and also universal precautions Medical procedures : In most developed countries, there is little risk of getting hep C in a medical environment.
Needle stick injurie s: If a health care provider accidentally sticks themselves when caring for a person who has hep C, then the virus can be spread. The provider should be tested for HCV. Acute hepatitis C also responds well to antiviral therapy. There is a problem with information submitted for this request.
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You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Your in-depth digestive health guide will be in your inbox shortly. You will also receive emails from Mayo Clinic on the latest health news, research, and care. The infection spreads when blood contaminated with the virus enters the bloodstream of an uninfected person.
Globally, HCV exists in several distinct forms, known as genotypes. Seven distinct HCV genotypes and more than 67 subtypes have been identified.
Although chronic hepatitis C follows a similar course regardless of the genotype of the infecting virus, treatment recommendations vary depending on viral genotype.
A normal liver left shows no signs of scarring. In cirrhosis right , scar tissue replaces normal liver tissue. Liver cancer begins in the cells of the liver.
The most common form of liver cancer begins in cells called hepatocytes and is called hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatitis C infection that continues over many years can cause significant complications, such as:.
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