People with chronic hepatitis C can live for years without symptoms or feeling sick. When symptoms appear with chronic hepatitis C, they often are a sign of advanced liver disease. A blood test called a hepatitis C antibody test can tell if you have been infected with the hepatitis C virus—either recently or in the past. If you have a positive antibody test, another blood test is needed to tell if you are still infected or if you were infected in the past and cleared the virus on your own.
Getting tested for hepatitis C is important to find out if you are infected and get lifesaving treatment. Treatments are available that can cure most people with hepatitis C in 8 to 12 weeks. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.
Viral Hepatitis. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Hepatitis C. Minus Related Pages. What is hepatitis? All adults, pregnant women, and people with risk factors should get tested for hepatitis C. How is hepatitis C spread? Today, most people become infected with hepatitis C by sharing needles, syringes, or any other equipment used to prepare and inject drugs.
Although uncommon, people can become infected when health care professionals do not follow the proper steps needed to prevent the spread of bloodborne infections. While uncommon, hepatitis C can spread during sex, though it has been reported more often among men who have sex with men. Hepatitis C can spread when getting tattoos or body piercings in unlicensed facilities, informal settings, or with non-sterile instruments.
People can get infected from sharing glucose monitors, razors, nail clippers, toothbrushes, and other items that may have come into contact with infected blood, even in amounts too small to see. Before widespread screening of the blood supply in , hepatitis C was also spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants. Symptoms Many people with hepatitis C do not have symptoms and do not know they are infected.
People can live with hepatitis C without symptoms or feeling sick. Getting tested is the only way to know if you have hepatitis C.
CDC recommends you get tested for hepatitis C if you:. Are 18 years of age and older Are pregnant get tested during each pregnancy Currently inject drugs get tested regularly Have ever injected drugs, even if it was just once or many years ago Have HIV Have abnormal liver tests or liver disease Are on hemodialysis Received donated blood or organs before July Received clotting factor concentrates before Have been exposed to blood from a person who has hepatitis C Were born to a mother with hepatitis C.
Hepatitis C can be prevented. Avoid sharing or reusing needles, syringes or any other equipment used to prepare and inject drugs, steroids, hormones, or other substances. Although chronic hepatitis C follows a similar course regardless of the genotype of the infecting virus, treatment recommendations vary depending on viral genotype.
A normal liver left shows no signs of scarring. In cirrhosis right , scar tissue replaces normal liver tissue. Liver cancer begins in the cells of the liver. The most common form of liver cancer begins in cells called hepatocytes and is called hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatitis C infection that continues over many years can cause significant complications, such as:.
Hepatitis C care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview The liver Open pop-up dialog box Close.
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Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Normal liver vs. Liver cancer Open pop-up dialog box Close. Liver cancer Liver cancer begins in the cells of the liver. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Hepatitis C questions and answers for health professionals. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed May 12, Hepatitis C. Mayberry J, et al. The revolution in treatment of hepatitis C. Medical Clinics of North America. Chopra S, et al. Clinical manifestations and natural history of chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
Kim AY. Epidemiology and transmission of hepatitis C virus infection. Hepatitis C adult. Mayo Clinic; Definition and facts of liver transplant. Jhaveri R, et al. Hepatitis C virus infection in children. Morrow ES. AllScripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic.
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