Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is found in the blood of persons who have this infection. Hepatitis C is usually spread when blood from a person infected with the hepatitis C virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. People can become infected with the hepatitis C virus when sharing needles, syringes, or other equipment to inject drugs, needle-stick injuries in health care settings, or being born to a person who has hepatitis C infection during pregnancy. Less commonly, a person can also get hepatitis C virus infection through sharing personal care items that may have contacted another person’s blood, such as razors or having sexual contact with a person infected with hepatitis C. Having HIV or a sexually transmitted infection increases the risk of getting hepatitis C through unprotected sex.

How serious is hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is a liver disease that results from infection with the hepatitis C virus. It can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a lifelong illness. For most people, acute infection leads to chronic, lifelong infection. Chronic hepatitis C is a serious disease than can result in long-term health problems, or even death if it is not treated and cured.

What can I do if my hepatitis C test is positive?

Contact your doctor, as additional testing may be needed to find out if you have current hepatitis C infection, check on the health of your liver, and consider treatment. For most people, hepatitis C can now be cured in as little as 8-12 weeks with limited side effects. National guidelines recommend hepatitis C treatment for nearly everyone with hepatitis C, including people who use drugs and people in recovery and people who experiencing homelessness. If you have current infection, you may be counseled on ways to care for your liver and prevent spreading HCV to others.

Facts

Hepatitis C Basics (CDC)

Hepatitis C Public Resources (CDC)

Hepatitis ABC Table (CDC) (PDF)

Hepatitis C Basics for People Who Use Drugs (Harm Reduction Coalition, 2016)

Drug User Healthcare Access Videos (Los Angeles Community Health Project, 2016)

Your Medicare Coverage: Hepatitis C Screening

Have You Ever Injected Drugs? What You Need to Know About Hepatitis C

How Does Hepatitis C Hurt Your Liver? (WebMD)

Hepatitis and the Liver (VA)

The Power of a Cure (End Hep C San Francisco)