What is Hepatitis C?
Overview
Hepatitis C is a virus that affects the liver and can lead to serious health problems if not treated. Many people do not have symptoms, so it can go unnoticed without testing.
American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities are especially impacted, with the highest rates of hepatitis C and related deaths in the United States.
Hepatitis C is curable with treatment, especially when found early.
Symptoms
Many people with hepatitis C do not have symptoms and may not know they have the infection. When symptoms do occur, they usually appear within a few weeks of exposure.
Some common symptoms include:
Feeling very tired
Fever
Loss of appetite
Nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain
Joint pain
Dark urine or light-colored (clay-colored) stools
Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
Some people with long-term (chronic) hepatitis C may still have no symptoms or may feel ongoing fatigue.
Because symptoms are often mild or not noticeable, testing is important to detect hepatitis C early.
How it spreads
Hepatitis C is spread through contact with infected blood entering the body.
The most common ways it spreads include:
Sharing needles, syringes, or other injection equipment
Blood exposure, such as through non-sterile tattoo or piercing equipment
It can also be spread, but less commonly, through:
Sexual contact
From parent to baby during pregnancy or birth
Hepatitis C is not spread through casual contact, such as hugging, kissing, sharing food, or being around someone who has the virus.
Prevention
Hepatitis C spreads through contact with infected blood, so prevention focuses on avoiding blood exposure.
Ways to reduce your risk include:
Not sharing needles, syringes, or any injection equipment
Making sure tattoos or piercings are done with clean, sterile equipment
Avoiding contact with another person’s blood
While hepatitis C is less commonly spread through sex, using condoms can help reduce the risk.
Because many people do not have symptoms, getting tested is an important part of prevention, especially if you think you may have been exposed.
Testing and Treatment
Many people with hepatitis C do not have symptoms, so getting tested is the only way to know if you have it.
Testing is recommended for all adults, pregnant individuals, and anyone who may have been exposed to the virus.
Testing is done with a blood test
Some tests can show if you were exposed, and follow-up tests confirm if the virus is still in your body
At DIHFS, testing is done using a fingerstick that collects a blood sample
Getting tested is important because hepatitis C can go unnoticed for years but still cause serious health problems over time, including liver damage.
Testing
Hepatitis C is curable with medication, and most people can be successfully treated.
Treatment usually involves taking oral medication (pills) for 8–12 weeks
Most people are cured after treatment
There is no vaccine for hepatitis C
Treatment is recommended for most people with hepatitis C. Getting treated early can help prevent serious liver damage and improve long-term health.