Hepatitis C

Signs and symptoms

Most people with hepatitis C don’t notice symptoms when they first become infected. If symptoms do appear, they usually show up two weeks to 12 weeks after exposure and can include:

• Tiredness
• Fever
• Nausea or vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Loss of appetite
• Dark urine
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes (called jaundice)

Only about one in four people with new infections have symptoms.

If left untreated, hepatitis C can lead to cirrhosis which can cause symptoms like yellowing of the eyes, abdominal or leg swelling, and confusion.

How it spreads

Hepatitis C spreads through contact with infected blood. This can happen when:

• Sharing needles or injection equipment (“works”)
• Getting stuck with a needle at work
• Receiving a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992 (before routine screening began)
• Reusing syringes or vials in a health care setting

It’s also possible for a baby to get hepatitis C during birth if the mother has the virus.
You cannot get hepatitis C from:

• Hugging, shaking hands or sharing food and drinks
• Coughing, sneezing or kissing

The risk of sexual transmission is low for people in long-term, monogamous relationships, but using condoms reduces the risk even more.

People at higher risk

You may have a higher chance of hepatitis C infection if you:

• Use or have used injection drugs
• Have a sexual partner who uses drugs
• Got a blood transfusion, blood product or organ donation before July 1992
• Received clotting factor before 1987
• Are living with HIV
• Have been incarcerated
• Were born between 1945 and 1965
• Were born to a mother with hepatitis C

Prevention

There’s no vaccine for hepatitis C, but you can prevent infection by:

• Never sharing needles, syringes or injection equipment
• Using only sterile medical and tattoo equipment
• Practicing safer sex
• Avoiding contact with anyone’s blood

People with hepatitis C should not be excluded from work, school, sports or other activities, since the virus isn’t spread through casual contact.

Testing and diagnosis

A simple blood test can show if you have hepatitis C. Because many people don’t have symptoms, testing is the only way to know for sure.

All adults should be screened at least once in their lives.

Talk to your health care provider about testing if you have any of the risks or symptoms listed above. Early testing can help prevent liver damage and protect others.

Treatment and recovery

Most people with hepatitis C can now be cured with medicines – no injections required. Treatment length depends on your health and the type of virus you have but is generally eight to twelve weeks.

If you have hepatitis C:

• Follow your doctor’s treatment plan
• Don’t drink alcohol – it can speed up liver damage
• Avoid sharing razors, toothbrushes or anything that might have blood on it
• Cover cuts and open wounds
• Tell your doctor and dentist about your infection
• Use condoms to lower the risk of sexual transmission

People with hepatitis C can live long, healthy lives and treating hepatitis C can lead to improvement in liver health for nearly everyone. 

Outbreaks and public safety

Unsafe medical practices, like reusing syringes or multi-dose vials, can spread hepatitis C. The CDC: The One & Only Campaign promotes safe injection practices to protect patients and health care workers.