Understanding Hepatitis C: Symptoms, Treatment, and More

Hepatitis C is a viral infection that can lead to liver inflammation and serious complications. Various antiviral medications are used to manage and treat hepatitis C.
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Prepared by Shruti Sahoo, reviewed by Dr. Eugene Smith

Hepatitis C FAQ


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What is hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is an inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus. The virus can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis, ranging in severity from a mild illness to a serious, lifelong illness including liver cirrhosis and cancer.

Is hepatitis C a long-term illness?

For some people, hepatitis C is a short-term illness, but for more than half of people who become infected with the hepatitis C virus, it becomes a long-term, chronic infection. Chronic hepatitis C can result in serious, even life-threatening health problems like cirrhosis and liver cancer.

What causes hepatitis C infection?

Hepatitis C infection is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The infection spreads when blood that has the virus enters the bloodstream of a person who isn't affected. Around the world, hepatitis C infection exists in several forms, called genotypes.

Where does hepatitis C virus infection occur?

Hepatitis C virus infection occurs in all WHO regions. The highest burden of disease is in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and European Region, with 12 million people chronically infected in each region. In the South-East Asia Region and the Western Pacific Region, an estimated 10 million people in each region are chronically infected.

What are Hep C FAQs?

Our hepatitis C FAQs aim to quickly answer the most commonly asked hep C questions. You might simply be curious about hep C. Or you, or someone you know, might have been diagnosed with hep C recently or in the past. In any case, these hep C FAQs are for you. Just scroll down to see all 12 FAQs. Also see our A B C Comparison.

Hepatitis C References

If you want to know more about Hepatitis C, consider exploring links below:

What Is Hepatitis C

  1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-c/symptoms-causes/syc-20354278
  2. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/hepatitis-c
  3. https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/Hepatitis_C.aspx
  4. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-c
  5. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15664-hepatitis-c
  6. https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/HepatitisCOverview.htm
  7. https://www.hep.org.au/hep-c/what-is-hep-c/
  8. https://www.health.gov.au/diseases/hepatitis-c
  9. https://liver.org.au/your-liver/liver-diseases/hepatitis-c/

Hepatitis C Information

  1. https://hepcguidelines.org.au/
  2. https://www.hepatitisaustralia.com/what-is-hepatitis-c

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2024-Apr-06 00:46