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What are the signs of hepatitis C?

A hepatitis C infection can often pass undetected for many years, since many people who contract the virus do not exhibit any signs and symptoms. Signs of hepatitis C include fatigue, weariness, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, dark urine, muscle and joint pain, jaundice, fever, liver pain and pale stools.

FAQ Frequently asked questions

What is hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver. It can result in serious health issues, including liver failure and death. The virus spreads mainly during blood-to-blood contact.

How common is hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C affects an estimated 130-200 million people worldwide.

Who can become infected with hepatitis C?

Anyone can be infected with hepatitis C. People at a particular risk of infection include: Blood transfusion recipients, especially prior to 1990; Intravenous drug users (past or present); People who have had tattoos and body piercings, …

How is hepatitis C diagnosed?

Hepatitis C is diagnosed through blood tests, which measure liver function and detect the presence of antibodies to the hepatitis C virus in the blood.

How is hepatitis C treated?

Hepatitis C can be treated with a combination of several antiviral drugs, commonly pegylated interferon and ribavirin. The success of the treatment is around 50%. In late 2013, two new medications for hepatitis C - sofosbuvir and simeprevir - have been shown in …

Is hepatitis C serious?

Hepatitis C is a serious condition, causing significant liver damage in approximately 15-30% of cases. If this occurs, a liver transplant may be required in order to avoid death.

Can I prevent infection with hepatitis C?

The best way of preventing infection with hepatitis C is to avoid coming into contact with other people's blood. This can be achieved by: avoiding any untested blood or organ donations; avoiding sharing of needles, razors, toothbrushes or nail …

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About this article

Author: Dr Idan Ben-Barak PhD, MSc, BSc (Med)
First answered: 19 Sep 2014
Last reviewed: 19 May 2018
Rating: 4.6 out of 5
Votes: 924 (Click smiley face below to rate)
Category: Hepatitis B

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