About Hepatitis C

This site contains information from government publications about hepatitis C that have been reformatted and reorganized. There are numerous links to the original documents.

The goal is to make the information easier to find and to allow the sharing of information between users.

This is a very big undertaking and you can help me help others. Please add your comments or questions to any topic that concerns you. If you know of additional resources please include links to them.

I am especially looking for:

• Experiences of hepatitis C patients
• Experiences of family members of hepatitis C patients
• Experiences of caregivers experienced with hepatitis C
• Experiences of physicians experienced with hepatitis C
• Experiences of researchers experienced with hepatitis C

• Information about specific hepatitis C products
• Information about specific hepatitis C treatments
• Information about specific hepatitis C medications
• Information about hospitals specializing in the detection and treatment of hepatitis C
• Information about clinics specializing in the treatment of hepatitis C
• Information about physicians specializing in the treatment of hepatitis C

If possible please include:

• Links to hepatitis C websites
• Links to hepatitis C blogs
• Links to hepatitis C news articles
• Links to hepatitis C research articles

What is hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is a liver disease.

Hepatitis (HEP-ah-TY-tis) makes your liver swell and stops it from working right.

You need a healthy liver. The liver does many things to keep you alive. The liver fights infections and stops bleeding. It removes drugs and other poisons from your blood. The liver also stores energy for when you need it.

source: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hepc_ez/index.htm

What causes hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is caused by a virus.

A virus is a germ that causes sickness. (For example, the flu is caused by a virus.) People can pass viruses to each other. The virus that causes hepatitis C is called the hepatitis C virus.

source: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hepc_ez/index.htm

How could I get hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is spread by contact with an infected person's blood.

You could get hepatitis C by

	You could get hepatitis C by sharing drug needles.

• sharing drug needles
  
  
• getting pricked with a needle that has infected blood on it (hospital workers can get hepatitis C this way)
  
  
• having sex with an infected person, especially if you or your partner has other sexually transmitted diseases
  
  
• being born to a mother with hepatitis C
  
  

In rare cases, you could get hepatitis C by

• getting a tattoo or body piercing with unsterilized, dirty tools
  
  

You can NOT get hepatitis C by

• shaking hands with an infected person
  
  
• hugging an infected person
  
  
• kissing an infected person
  
  
• sitting next to an infected person

source: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hepc_ez/index.htm

Could I get hepatitis C from a blood transfusion?

If you had a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992, you might have hepatitis C.

Before 1992, doctors could not check blood for hepatitis C, and some people received infected blood. If you had a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992, ask a doctor to test you for hepatitis C. (See "What are the tests for hepatitis C?")

A doctor can test you for hepatitis C.

source: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hepc_ez/index.htm

What are the symptoms?

Many people with hepatitis C don't have symptoms.

However, some people with hepatitis C feel like they have the flu.

So, you might

• feel tired
  
  
• feel sick to your stomach
  
  
• have a fever
  
  
• not want to eat
  
  
• have stomach pain
  
  
• have diarrhea

Some people have

• dark yellow urine
  
  
• light-colored stools
  
  
• yellowish eyes and skin

If you have symptoms or think you might have hepatitis C, go to a doctor.

source: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hepc_ez/index.htm

What are the tests for hepatitis C?

To check for hepatitis C, the doctor will test your blood.

These tests show if you have hepatitis C and how serious it is.

The doctor may also do a liver biopsy.

A biopsy (BYE-op-see) is a simple test. The doctor removes a tiny piece of your liver through a needle. The doctor checks the piece of liver for signs of hepatitis C and liver damage.

The doctor will take some blood to check for hepatitis C.

source: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hepc_ez/index.htm

How is hepatitis C treated?

Hepatitis C is treated with a drug called peginterferon, usually in combination with the drug ribavirin.

You may need surgery if you have hepatitis C for many years. Over time, hepatitis C can cause your liver to stop working. If that happens, you will need a new liver. The surgery is called a liver transplant. It involves taking out the old, damaged liver and putting in a new, healthy one from a donor.

Hepatitis C is treated through shots of medicine.

source: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hepc_ez/index.htm

How can I protect myself from hepatitis C?

You can protect yourself and others from hepatitis C.

	If you inject drugs, use your own needles.

• Don't share drug needles with anyone.
  
  
• Wear gloves if you have to touch anyone's blood.
  
  
• If you have several sex partners, use a condom during sex.
  
  
• Don't use an infected person's toothbrush, razor, or anything else that could have blood on it.
  
  
• If you get a tattoo or body piercing, make sure it is done with clean tools.
  
  
• If you have hepatitis C, don't give your blood or plasma. The person who receives it could become infected with the virus.

source: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hepc_ez/index.htm

For More Information About Hepatitis C

You can also get information about hepatitis C from these groups:

American Liver Foundation (ALF)
75 Maiden Lane, Suite 603
New York, NY 10038-4810
Phone: 1-800-GO-LIVER (465-4837),
1-888-4HEP-USA (443-7872),
or (212) 668-1000
Fax: (212) 483-8179
Email: info@liverfoundation.org
Internet: www.liverfoundation.org

Hepatitis Foundation International (HFI)
504 Blick Drive
Silver Spring, MD 20904-2901
Phone: 1-800-891-0707 or (301) 622-4200
Fax: (301) 622-4702
Email: hfi@comcast.net
Internet: www.hepfi.org

There are other types of hepatitis. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse also has booklets about hepatitis A and hepatitis B:

• What I need to know about Hepatitis A
  
  
• What I need to know about Hepatitis B

You can get a free copy of each of these booklets by calling 1-800-891-5389 or (301) 654-3810, or by writing to

NDDIC
2 Information Way
Bethesda, MD 20892-3570

Hepatitis information for health professionals is also available.

source: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hepc_ez/index.htm