Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a viral disease that leads to swelling (inflammation) of the liver.

Symptoms

Most people who were recently infected with hepatitis C do not have symptoms. About 10% have jaundice that gets better.

Of people who get infected with HCV, most develop chronic HCV infection. Usually there are no symptoms.

If the infection has been present for many years, the liver may be permanently scarred, a condition calledcirrhosis. In many cases, there may be no symptoms of the disease until cirrhosis has developed.

The following symptoms could occur with hepatitis C infection:

• Abdominal pain (right upper abdomen)
• Abdominal swelling (due to fluid calledascites)
• Bleeding from the esophagus or stomach (due to dilated veins in the esophagus or stomach calledvarices
• Dark urine
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Itching
• Jaundice
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Pale or clay-colored stools
• Vomiting

  Prevention

  Avoid contact with blood or blood products whenever possible. Health care workers should follow precautions when handling blood and bodily fluids.
  Do not inject illicit drugs, and especially do not share needles with anyone. Be careful when getting tattoos and body piercings.
  Sexual transmission is very low among stable, monogamous couples. A partner should be screened for hepatitis C. If the partner is negative, the current recommendations are to make no changes in sexual practices.
  People who have sex outside of a monogamous relationship should practice safer sex behaviors to avoid hepatitis C as well as sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV and hepatitis B.
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