What is Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C (hep C) is a virus that causes inflammation in the liver. It remains a common cause of chronic viral hepatitis in the U.S. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread through exposure to blood infected with the virus, although people may not know they have the infection. Unlike hepatitis A and B, there is no hepatitis C vaccine. That’s why all adults should be screened for the virus at least once. If you know you’ve been exposed to the virus, it’s important to see a provider for diagnosis and treatment.
At MedStar Health, our gastroenterology specialists offer comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for all types of hepatitis and liver disease. While some people with the virus experience an acute (short-term) infection with mild symptoms, most infections are chronic, or lifelong. Left untreated, the virus can cause serious liver damage, including scarring (cirrhosis) or liver cancer. Fortunately, an oral treatment over 8 to 12 weeks cures most people with the infection.
Hepatitis
Watch the video below to learn more about viral hepatitis.
Hepatitis C symptoms
Many people who have chronic hepatitis C do not experience symptoms. Often, infection is discovered only when they are screened for HCV with blood tests, their liver function is compromised, or they begin to show signs of liver disease.
The most common signs of hep C include:
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Itching, skin rash
Liver disease can begin even before you notice signs of the virus, so it’s important to get screened if you think you may have been exposed. Additionally, even if you don’t have any HCV symptoms, you can still pass the virus to others.
Risk factors and causes
Hepatitis C is caused by the hepatitis C virus, which may enter the bloodstream if your blood comes into contact with someone else whose blood is infected.
How is it transmitted?
Hepatitis C is an infectious disease that is spread through contact with blood that is infected with HCV. Most commonly, exposure to the virus occurs through:
- Sharing needles during intravenous drug use
- Tattoos with unsterilized equipment
- Accidental needle sticks
- Mother passing the virus to her baby
In rare cases, it can also spread through sexual contact.
Hepatitis C screening
Many people don’t know they have the virus since it doesn’t always cause symptoms. Healthcare providers recommend all adults get screened for hep C at least once or more frequently if they meet certain risk factors, such as if you:
- Ever injected drugs
- Were born to someone with the virus
- Have ever been stuck by a needle at work
- Received a blood transfusion before 1990
- Have HIV
Diagnosis
To diagnose HCV, your healthcare provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your symptoms and medical history. They will also ask questions about related risk factors, such as if you’ve had any blood transfusions before 1990 or use needles.
Your provider may order various blood tests to diagnose hepatitis C and evaluate your liver function. Additional tests may be used to look for liver damage, including:
- Radiologic tests, such as ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI
- Liver biopsy, a sample of liver tissue for further evaluation under a microscope
Treatment
Hepatitis C treatment involves taking oral medication by mouth for eight to twelve weeks, which cures the infection in nearly all patients. This is in contrast to Hepatitis B, which requires indefinite treatment. Hepatitis C medication is generally well-tolerated, with few to no side effects.
At MedStar Health, we offer patients with hepatitis C comprehensive care, including careful monitoring of liver disease signs. If you have cirrhosis (scarring) or severe liver damage, a liver transplant may be your best option. During liver transplant surgery, your damaged liver is replaced with a healthy liver from a donor.
Our providers
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Ann Katherine Chen, PA-C
Gastroenterology
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Aaron Michael Fond, MD
Gastroenterology
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Kathleen Ann McClanahan, ANP-BC
Gastroenterology
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Nicole Mitchell, CRNP
Gastroenterology
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Shannan Elizabeth Richardson, CRNP
Gastroenterology
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Atul Rasiklal Shah, MD
Gastroenterology
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Umed K Shah, MD
Gastroenterology
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Konika Sharma, MD
Gastroenterology
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Danny T. Shearer, MD
Gastroenterology
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Jill P. Smith, MD
Gastroenterology
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Gary William Thompson, MD
Gastroenterology
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Molly Robeson Wilcox, FNPBC
Gastroenterology
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Richard B Williams, MD
Gastroenterology
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Marc Lyle Kozam, MD
Gastroenterology
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Joshua Aaron Rosenbloom, DO
Gastroenterology
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Julio Alejandro Salcedo, MD
Gastroenterology
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Frequently asked questions
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Is there a vaccine for hepatitis C?
No, there is no hepatitis C vaccine available. The best thing you can do to prevent HCV is to avoid contact with the virus altogether.
However, there are effective vaccines that prevent hepatitis A and B. Talk to your doctor about your risk factors and when you should consider vaccination, if you have hepatitis C.
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Does hepatitis C go away on its own?
People who have an acute infection (less than six months) may get better on their own. The younger you are, the more likely you are to clear the infection. Those who develop chronic hepatitis C will have the virus long-term and need medication for treatment.
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Is there a cure?
Yes, the vast majority of patients with a chronic infection can be cured with proper treatment. However, it’s possible to become reinfected with the virus.