Hepatitis C
- Hepatitis C Overview
- Hepatitis C Causes
- Hepatitis C Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Hepatitis C Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medical Treatment
- Medications
- Surgery
- Other Therapy
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Support Groups and Counseling
- For More Information
- Web Links
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
- Viewer Comments: Hepatitis C - How Was Diagnosis Established
Hepatitis C Overview
Hepatitis is a general term that means inflammation of the liver. This inflammation can be caused by infection. Hepatitis can also be caused by exposure to alcohol, certain medications, chemicals, poisons, and other toxins, or by other diseases. >Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the many viruses that can cause inflammation of the liver.
Inflammation of the liver caused by infection with HCV is referred to as hepatitis C.
- If the inflammation is not reversed, it becomes chronic (ongoing, long term) and can cause chronic liver disease, which can be serious or even fatal.
- At least 75% of people infected with hepatitis C develop chronic hepatitis C.
- If the disease progresses to the point at which the liver begins to fail (end stage liver disease), the only treatment is liver transplantation.
Hepatitis C is an increasing public health concern in the United States and throughout the world.
- HCV is one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease in the United States and the most common cause of chronic viral hepatitis.
- It is believed to be the cause of about 15-20% of all cases of acute (new, short term) viral hepatitis and half of all cases of cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, and liver cancer.
About 4 million people in the United States have antibodies to HCV, meaning they have been infected with the virus at some point; as many as half of them do not know they have the infection.
Next: Hepatitis C Causes »
Viewer Comments & Reviews
Hepatitis C - How Was Diagnosis Established
What was or has been the treatment for your hepatitis C, and was it effective?
| Printer-Friendly Format | | | Email to a Friend |
Women's Health
Find out what women really need.
From WebMD
Healthy Resources
Featured Centers
- 12 Ways to Prevent the Spread of Viruses
- 10 Surprising Benefits of Treating Depression
- Healthy Home: To Buy or Not to Buy Organic?
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Hepatitis C
Current and Future Medications for Hepatitis C »
What Is Hepatitis C?
Inflammation of the liver caused by infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is referred to as hepatitis C.
What Causes Hepatitis C?
The hepatitis C virus is not related to the other viruses that cause hepatitis. Like the other hepatitis viruses, however, it is contagious. HCV is mainly transmitted by contact with blood or blood products.
- Sharing of contaminated needles among intravenous (IV) drug users is the most common mode of transmission. Using a needle to inject drugs, even just once many years ago, is a risk factor for hepatitis C.
- Rarely, hemodialysis (machine removal of toxins in the blood), transfusion with infected blood or blood products (prior to 1995), or transplantation of organs from infected donors transmits the virus.
- Extremely rare transmission modes include from mother to child during birth, sexual intercourse (particularly if se...
Read the Current and Future Medications for Hepatitis C article »
Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine
Hepatitis C »
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 170 million individuals worldwide are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV).
Featured Topics
Explore 80+ Centers
- Allergy
- Allergy Medications
- Anaphylaxis
- Antidepressants
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Baby's Health
- Back, Neck, Head Injury
- Bioterrorism, Warfare
- Blood, Lymphatic System
- Bone, Joint, Muscle
- Brain, Nervous System
- Breathing Difficulties
- Burns
- Camping
- Cancer, Tumors
- Children's Health
- Cholesterol
- Cold and Flu
- CPR, Choking
- Cuts, Scrapes, Bruises
- Dementia
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Diabetic Coma, Insulin Shock
- Digestive System
- Dislocations
- Drowning
- Drug Overdose
- Ear, Nose, Throat
- Emotional Wellness
- Endocrine System
- Environmental Injuries
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Exercise, Nutrition
- Eye, Vision
- Fainting
- Fever
- First Aid, Emergency
- First Aid Kits
- Food Poisoning
- Foreign Bodies
- Fractures, Broken Bones
- Glaucoma
- Headache
- Health, Medical
- Heartburn, GERD, Reflux
- Heart, Blood Vessels
- Heart Attack
- Hepatitis
- Immune System
- Incontinence
- Infections
- Kidneys, Urinary System
- Lung, Airway
- Medications
- Men's Health
- Mental Health, Behavior
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Nosebleeds
- Osteoporosis
- Outdoor Living
- Overexposure
- Poisoning
- Procedures
- Psoriasis
- Public Health
- Scuba Diving, Swimming
- Seizures
- Senior Health
- Shock
- Skin, Hair, Nails
- Sleep Disorders
- Social, Family Health
- Sports Injury
- Sprains, Strains
- Statins
- STDs
- Substance Abuse
- Teen Health
- Teeth, Mouth, Oral Health
- Weight Management
- Wilderness Emergencies
- Women's Health
- Wounds

