What  is hepatitis C? 

Hepatitis C is a liver disease. "Hepatitis ' means inflammation of the liver. Inflammation is  the painful, red swelling that result when tissues  of the body become injured or infected. Inflammation can cause organs  to not work properly. 

What is  the liver? 

The liver is an organ that does many important things. 

The liver 

• removes harmful chemicals from your blood 
• fights infection 
• helps digest food 
• stores nutrients and vitamins 
• stores energy 

You cannot live without a liver. 

What causes hepatitis C? 

The hepatitis C virus causes hepatitis C. Viruses are germs that can cause sickness. For example, the flu is caused by a virus. People can pass viruses to each other. 

Who gets hepatitis C? 

Anyone can get hepatitis C, but some people are at higher risk, including 

• people who were born to a mother with hepatitis C 
• people who have had more than one sex partner in the last 6 months or have a history of sexually transmitted disease 
• people who had a blood transfusion or organ transplant before July 1992 
• people with hemophilia who received blood products before 1987 
• people who have used illegal injection drugs 

How could I get hepatitis C? 

You could get hepatitis C through contact with an infected person’s blood. 

You could get hepatitis C from 

• being born  to a mother  with hepatitis C
• having sex with an infected person 
• being tattooed or pierced with unsterilized tools that were used  on an infected person 
• getting an accidental needle stick with  a needle that was used on an  infected person 
• using an infected person’s razor or toothbrush 
• sharing drug needles with an infected person 

What  are the symptoms of hepatitis C?
Most people have no symptoms until the virus causes liver damage, which can take 10 or more  years to happen. Others have one or more of the following symptoms: 

• yellowish eyes and skin, called jaundice 
• a longer than usual amount  of time for bleeding to stop 
• swollen stomach  or ankles 
• easy bruising 
• tiredness 
• upset stomach 
• fever 
• loss of appetite 
• diarrhea
• light-colored stools 
• dark yellow urine 

What is chronic hepatitis C? 

Hepatitis C is chronic when the body can’t get rid of the  hepatitis C virus. Although some people clear the virus from their bodies in  a few months, most hepatitis C infections become chronic. Without treatment,  chronic hepatitis C can cause scarring of  the liver, called cirrhosis;  liver cancer;  and liver failure. 

Symptoms of cirrhosis include 

• yellowish eyes  and skin, called jaundice 
• a longer than usual amount of time  for bleeding to stop 
• swollen stomach  or ankles 
• tiredness 
• nausea 
• weakness 
• loss  of appetite 
• weight loss 
• spiderlike blood vessels, called spider angiomas, that develop  on the skin 

How is hepatitis C diagnosed? 

Hepatitis C is diagnosed through blood tests, which can  also show if you have chronic hepatitis C or another type of hepatitis. Your doctor may suggest getting  a liver biopsy if chronic hepatitis  C is suspected. A liver biopsy is  a test for  liver damage.  The doctor uses a needle to remove  a tiny piece of liver, which is then looked at with  a microscope. 

How is hepatitis C treated? 

Hepatitis C is not treated unless it becomes chronic. Chronic hepatitis C is treated with drugs  that slow or stop  the virus  from damaging the liver. 

Drugs for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C

Chronic hepatitis C  is most often treated with the drug combination peginterferon and ribavirin, which attacks the hepatitis C virus. Peginterferon is taken through weekly shots and ribavirin is taken daily by mouth. Treatment lasts from 24 to 48 weeks. 

Liver Transplantation 

A liver transplant may be necessary if chronic hepatitis C causes liver failure. Liver transplantation surgery replaces a failed liver  with a healthy one  from a donor. Drug treatment often must continue because hepatitis C usually comes back after surgery. 

How can I avoid getting hepatitis C? 

You can protect yourself  and others from hepatitis C if you 

• do not share drug needles 
• wear gloves if you have  to touch another person’s blood 
• use a condom during sex 
• do not borrow another person’s toothbrush, razor,  or anything else that could have blood  on it
• make sure any tattoos or body piercings you get are done with sterile tools 
• do not donate  blood or blood products if you have hepatitis C 

What should I do if I think I have been exposed  to the hepatitis C virus? 

See your doctor and get tested if you are at higher risk of getting hepatitis C  or if you think you were exposed to the hepatitis C virus. Many people do not know they are infected. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent  chronic liver damage.