Hep C
Hepatitis C (Hep C) is a contagious, viral liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Early diagnosis and treatment of Hep C can help prevent complications such as liver cancer and cirrhosis (scarring of the liver).
Hep C can be either acute or chronic:
- Acute Hep C is a short-term illness that occurs within the first 6 months after someone has been exposed to HCV. Most people with acute Hep C develop chronic Hep C.
- Chronic Hep C is a long-term illness that occurs when HCV stays in a person's body. Hep C can last a lifetime and lead to serious liver problems, including chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, or liver cancer.
Who Is at Risk
- Anyone who injects drugs or has a history of injecting drugs
- Anyone who has human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
- Anyone with certain types of medical conditions, such as those who ever had hemodialysis and those who have abnormal aminotransferase (ALT) liver enzyme levels that persist
- Anyone who has been exposed to the blood of someone with HCV, especially healthcare and public safety workers (needle sticks, sharps, or mucosal exposure)
- Infants born to someone infected with HCV
- Anyone who received transfusions or organ transplant before 1992
Symptoms
Most people with Hep C have no symptoms but can still infect other people. People can live with an infection for decades without feeling sick.
If symptoms occur, they usually start 2-26 weeks after being exposed to HCV. Symptoms can be mild to severe. Symptoms may include:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Dark-colored urine
- Clay-colored stool
- Joint pain
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
How It Spreads
People with Hep C can spread it even if they have no symptoms.
You can get Hep C when you:
- Come into contact with the blood of someone who is infected
- Share needles, syringes, or other equipment used to inject drugs
- Get a needle-stick injury
- Are born to someone who has Hep C
- Have sex with someone who has Hep C
- Share personal-care items contaminated with infectious blood with someone who has Hep C
- Get a tattoo in unregulated facilities
Hep C does not spread through casual contact or in typical school, office, or food-service settings. It does not spread by coughing, sneezing, hugging, holding hands, drinking out of the same glass, or sharing food.
Prevention Tips
There is no vaccine to prevent Hep C. The best way to prevent Hep C is to engage in behaviors that prevent spreading the disease, such as:
- Don’t share or reuse needles, syringes, or other drug use supplies like water, nasal tubes such as straws, cottons, or works. Get free sterile needles and other drug use supplies at a local harm reduction organization.
- Don’t share toothbrushes, razors, or other personal-care items. There may be blood on these items that contains HCV that you cannot see and that can make you sick.
- If you’re a healthcare worker or first responder, always follow universal precautions and safely handle needles and other sharps.
- Go to a licensed body piercer or tattoo artist if you are thinking about getting a tattoo or body piercing. Be sure that they don’t reuse needles or inks.
- Use a condom every time you have sex. Learn more and get free condoms by mail from RIDOH or at locations statewide.
If you are infected with HCV:
- Don’t donate your blood, body organs, tissue, or sperm.
- Don’t share toothbrushes, razors, or other personal-care items that might have contaminated blood on them.
- Cover your cuts and open sores.
- Use a sterile needle or straw each time you inject or snort drugs. Learn more about how to prevent harmful mistakes during drug use.
- Use a condom every time you have sex. Learn more and get free condoms by mail from RIDOH or at locations statewide.
- Talk to your healthcare professional about your sex partner getting tested for HCV.
Testing & Diagnosis
Contact your healthcare professional, contact another provider offering HCV testing, or visit the Hep C testing services page to find testing options, including TESTING 1-2-3 and free, State-funded rapid testing services available from community organizations.
Treatment
Anyone with chronic Hep C should get care from a healthcare professional who specializes in treating hepatitis and should be monitored regularly for signs of liver disease. There are prescription medications to treat and cure hepatitis C. An 8-12 week course of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment is recommended for nearly all people diagnosed with hepatitis C, and DAA therapy cures more than 95% of people infected with hepatitis C. Talk to your healthcare provider about which medication is best for you.
You can also take care of yourself in these ways:
- Rest
- Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages
- Only take medications approved by your healthcare professional
- Get hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccinations to protect your liver from these infections