Hepatitis C Virus (HVC)

What is Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is a viral infection spread through contact with an infected person’s blood that leads to inflammation of the liver. The Hepatitis C virus (HCV) can cause acute or chronic infections. In acute cases, the infection can last up to six months, but it goes away on its own. In most cases, however, Hepatitis C results in long-term, chronic infections.

Left untreated, Hepatitis C can lead to liver disease, cirrhosis, liver cancer and death. In fact, chronic Hepatitis C infection is a major cause of liver transplants in the United States, and more than 15,000 people die every year from HCV-related issues.

Symptoms of Hepatitis C Infection

Most people with Hepatitis C have no symptoms for several years. In fact, up to 80 percent of people who carry HVC show no symptoms until it's too late and liver damage has occurred. As a result, federal disease experts recommend screenings for all individuals aged 18 years and older.

Symptoms may include:

• Fatigue
• Fever
• Abdominal pain
• Bloating
• Fluid in the abdomen
• Dark urine
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Bleeding