Hepatitis C Guide

Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus, and it spreads mainly through contact with infected blood. Today, most new infections in the United States happen through sharing needles or other equipment used to inject drugs. The virus can also pass through unsterile tattoo or piercing equipment, and less often through sex or from mother to baby. Many people with hepatitis C have no symptoms for years, so they do not know they are infected. That matters because untreated hepatitis C can slowly damage the liver and lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer. The good news is that modern antiviral treatment cures more than 95 percent of infections, usually in 8 to 12 weeks.

How Hepatitis C Spreads

Hepatitis C is transmitted when infected blood enters another person's bloodstream. The most common route is sharing needles or syringes. Before 1992, the virus was also spread through blood transfusions, which is why older adults are often encouraged to get tested. Sharing razors, toothbrushes, or nail clippers can also transmit it.

The virus is not spread through casual contact, hugging, kissing, or sharing food and drinks. Sexual transmission is possible but uncommon, and using condoms reduces the risk. Mother to baby transmission occurs in about 5 percent of births.

Why Many People Do Not Know They Have It

Most people with hepatitis C have no symptoms for years, which is why it is called a silent infection. When symptoms do appear, they are vague, including fatigue, nausea, and poor appetite, and are easy to attribute to stress or other causes. Many people are diagnosed during routine blood work.

Because the infection goes unnoticed, it can silently damage the liver for decades. Routine screening based on risk factors, rather than symptoms, is the way most new cases are found.

Long-Term Risks Without Treatment

Untreated chronic hepatitis C causes ongoing inflammation in the liver. Over 10 to 30 years, this can lead to cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, and in some cases liver failure or liver cancer. The risk is higher in people who drink alcohol heavily or have other liver conditions.

These outcomes are largely preventable with early diagnosis and treatment. Detecting hepatitis C before significant damage occurs is the goal of screening and testing programs.

Testing and the Path to a Cure

Testing starts with an antibody test, which shows whether you have ever been exposed to the virus. A positive antibody result is followed by an RNA test that confirms an active infection and measures viral load. If active infection is confirmed, treatment begins.

Most people are cured with 8 to 12 weeks of oral antiviral medication, with cure rates above 95 percent. After a cure, the virus is no longer detectable, and the risk of liver damage stops. Testing is the first step on that path.

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