Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a viral infection that affects the liver and is a major cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer. Unlike hepatitis B, it has no preventive vaccine yet, but the important good news is that hepatitis C can be cured with modern antiviral medicine in most people. However, the virus often shows no symptoms for a long time and usually becomes chronic, so many people do not know they are infected. This page explains it fully — transmission, symptoms, chronic infection, the curative treatment, testing, and prevention.
What hepatitis C is
Hepatitis C (HCV) is a virus that inflames the liver and can lead to long-term liver damage.
An infection that can be cured
A key feature of hepatitis C is that it can now be cured with modern antiviral medicine, which is a very important medical advance.
Knowing helps you protect your liver
Because the virus often has no symptoms and usually becomes chronic, testing matters a great deal in finding and treating it early. See the overview of STIs at sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Hepatitis C compared with B
Hepatitis C and B both damage the liver but have differences worth knowing.
Comparing hepatitis B and C
| Comparison | Hepatitis B | Hepatitis C |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission | Blood, sex, and mother-to-child | Mainly blood |
| Vaccine | Vaccine available | No vaccine yet |
| Becoming chronic | Most adults clear it | Most become chronic |
| Treatment | Antivirals help control it | Medicine can cure it |
To learn more about B
Hepatitis B has a preventive vaccine, which is a key difference from C. Read more at hepatitis B.
Transmission
Hepatitis C spreads mainly through blood.
Routes of transmission
- through blood, mainly, such as sharing needles or contact with infected blood
- through sex, which can happen but is less common than with hepatitis B, especially when bleeding is involved
- from mother to child, which can happen but is uncommon
The risk can be reduced
Not sharing needles or sharp objects, using condoms, and avoiding contact with infected blood help reduce the risk.
Symptoms
Hepatitis C often shows no symptoms for a long time.
Often no symptoms
Many infected people have no symptoms for years, so they do not know it and the liver is gradually damaged, which is why testing matters.
Symptoms that may appear
If symptoms appear, they can include fatigue, yellow skin and eyes, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, or pain around the liver, which often show up only when the disease has progressed.
Chronic infection
Hepatitis C usually becomes a chronic infection.
It usually becomes chronic
Unlike hepatitis B, where most adults clear it on their own, most people infected with hepatitis C develop a chronic infection if untreated.
Why it needs care
Untreated chronic infection is the cause of long-term liver damage, but because it can now be cured, finding and treating it early helps prevent complications.
Complications
If untreated, chronic hepatitis C can cause serious complications.
Long-term effects on the liver
- cirrhosis from chronic inflammation
- liver cancer, a serious complication
- liver failure in severe cases
Treat before damage occurs
Because hepatitis C can be cured, finding and treating it before the liver is badly damaged effectively helps prevent these conditions.
It can be cured
The most important good news about hepatitis C is that it can now be cured.
Highly effective medicine
There are now antiviral medicines that cure hepatitis C in most people, taken for a period as a doctor directs, and the newer medicines have few side effects and are highly effective.
Treatment protects the liver
A cure stops liver damage and lowers the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer, so those at risk should test to access treatment early.
No vaccine yet
Unlike hepatitis B, hepatitis C has no preventive vaccine yet.
Focus on other prevention
Because there is no vaccine yet, preventing hepatitis C focuses on avoiding contact with infected blood, such as not sharing needles, and using condoms.
Testing is the key
Regular testing for those at risk helps find and treat it early, which makes up for the lack of a vaccine to some extent, because it can be cured.
Testing
Hepatitis C is tested with a blood test.
How it is tested
A blood test can tell whether you have been exposed and have a current infection, which leads to treatment that can cure it.
Who should test
Those at risk — such as anyone who has shared needles, received blood in the past, or has a partner with the infection — should consider testing. Testing for hepatitis C alongside HIV and other STIs is a good approach. Read about testing at STI testing.
Prevention
Preventing hepatitis C focuses on reducing contact with infected blood.
How to prevent it
- do not share needles or sharp objects, such as syringes, razors, or tattoo equipment
- use condoms to reduce the risk through sex. Read more at condoms
- test regularly if you are at risk, to access treatment early
Prevention still matters after a cure
Even after being cured, being cured does not give lasting immunity, so you can be reinfected if exposed again, which means prevention and regular testing still matter.
Hepatitis C and HIV
Hepatitis C and HIV are connected in ways worth knowing.
Coinfection
Because hepatitis C and HIV share blood-borne routes of transmission, coinfection can occur and may make liver disease progress faster, so caring for both together is important.
Test and care together
Testing for hepatitis C and HIV together is a good approach, and people with HIV should test for hepatitis C and consult a doctor about liver care and treatment. See the overview at sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
In summary
Hepatitis C is a viral infection that affects the liver and is a major cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer. Unlike B, it has no vaccine yet, but it usually becomes chronic and often has no symptoms, so testing is an important way to know your status.
The important good news is that hepatitis C can be cured with modern antiviral medicine in most people. Prevention is possible through not sharing needles, condoms, and regular testing, and even after being cured you can be reinfected, so prevention still matters.
If you want to test for hepatitis C, other STIs, or HIV, find and book a clinic at Love2Test.
References
Based on guidance from international and national health authorities.