BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuHepatitis CSustained virologic response - hepatitis C; SVR - hepatitis CHepatitis C is a viral disease that leads to swelling (inflammation) of the liver.Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersOther types of viral hepatitis include:Hepatitis A Hepatitis AHepatitis A is inflammation (irritation and swelling) of the liver from the hepatitis A virus.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hepatitis B Hepatitis BHepatitis B is irritation and swelling (inflammation) of the liver due to infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Other types of viral hepatitis ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hepatitis D Hepatitis DHepatitis D is a viral infection caused by the hepatitis D virus (previously called the Delta agent). It causes symptoms only in people who also hav...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hepatitis E Causes Hepatitis C infection is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Previous imagePlay SlideshowStop SlideshowNext image / You can catch hepatitis C if the blood of someone who has HCV enters your body. Exposure may occur:After a needle stick or sharps injury After a needle stick or sharps injuryBeing exposed to sharps (needles and other sharp medical instruments) or body fluids means that another person's blood or other body fluid touches yo...Read Article Now Book Mark Article If blood from someone who has HCV contacts a cut on your skin or contacts your eyes or mouth While injecting street drugs After a blood transfusionPeople at risk for HCV are those who:Inject street drugs or share a needle with someone who has HCV Have been on long-term kidney dialysis Have regular contact with blood at work (such as a health care worker) Have unprotected sexual contact with a person who has HCV Were born to a mother who had HCV Received a tattoo or acupuncture with needles that were not disinfected properly after being used on another person (risk is very low with practitioners who have a tattoo license or permit or an acupuncture license) Received an organ transplant from a donor who has HCV Share personal items, such as toothbrushes and razors, with someone who has HCV (less common) Received a blood transfusion (rare in the United States since blood screening became available in 1992) Blood transfusionThere are many reasons you may need a blood transfusion:After knee or hip replacement surgery, or other major surgery that results in blood lossAfter...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms Most people who are recently infected with HCV do not have symptoms. Some people have yellowing of the skin (jaundice). Chronic infection often causes no symptoms. But fatigue, abdominal pain, depression and other problems can occur.Persons who have long-term (chronic) infection often have no symptoms until their liver becomes scarred (cirrhosis). Many people with cirrhosis are ill and have many health problems. CirrhosisCirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The following symptoms may occur with HCV infection:Pain in the right upper abdomen Abdominal swelling due to fluid (ascites) AscitesAscites is the build-up of fluid in the space between the lining of the abdomen and abdominal organs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Clay-colored or pale stools Clay-colored or pale stoolsStools that are pale, clay, or putty-colored may be due to problems in the biliary system. The biliary system is the drainage system of the gallblad...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Dark urine Dark urineBlood in your urine is called hematuria. The amount may be very small and only detected with urine tests or under a microscope. In other cases, the...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Fatigue FatigueFatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Fever FeverFever is the temporary increase in the body's temperature in response to a disease or illness. A child has a fever when the temperature is at or abov...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Itching ItchingItching is a tingling or irritation of the skin that makes you want to scratch the area. Itching may occur all over the body or only in one location...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Jaundice Loss of appetite Nausea and vomiting Exams and Tests Blood tests are done to check for HCV:Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to detect HCV antibody Enzyme immunoassayELISA stands for enzyme-linked immunoassay. It is a commonly used laboratory test to detect antibodies in the blood. An antibody is a protein produ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the virus itself, to measure virus levels (viral load), and to identify the type of hepatitis C virusAll adults ages 18 to 79 should get a one-time test for HCV. This screening test checks for antibodies against HCV (anti-HCV). If the antibody test is positive, a PCR test is used to confirm HCV infection.Further genetic testing is done to check for the type of HCV (genotype). There are six types of the virus (genotypes 1 through 6). Test results can help your health care provider choose treatment that is best for you.The following tests are done to identify and monitor liver damage from HCV:Albumin level Albumin levelAlbumin is a protein made by the liver. A serum albumin test measures the amount of this protein in the clear liquid portion of the blood. Albumin c...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver function tests Liver function testsLiver function tests are common tests that are used to see how well the liver is working. Tests include:AlbuminAlpha-1 antitrypsinAlkaline phosphata...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Prothrombin time Prothrombin timeProthrombin time (PT) is a blood test that measures the time it takes for the liquid portion (plasma) of your blood to clot. It measures the functio...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver biopsy Liver biopsyA liver biopsy is a test that takes a sample of tissue from the liver for examination.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Transient elastography using ultrasound Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) Treatment You should talk to your provider about your treatment options and when treatment should begin. The goal of treatment is to rid the body of the virus. This can prevent liver damage that may lead to liver failure or liver cancer. Liver cancerHepatocellular carcinoma is cancer that starts in the liver.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment is especially important for people who are showing signs of liver fibrosis or scarring. Antiviral medicines are used to treat HCV. These medicines help fight HCV. Newer antiviral medicines:Provide an excellent cure rate Have fewer side effects and are easier to take than older medicines Are taken by mouth for 8 to 24 weeks The choice of which medicine depends on the genotype of HCV you have.A liver transplant may be recommended for people who develop cirrhosis or liver cancer. Your provider can tell you more about liver transplant.Liver transplantLiver transplant is surgery to replace a diseased liver with a healthy liver.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article If you have HCV:Do not take over-the-counter medicines that you have not taken before without asking your provider. Also ask about vitamins and other supplements. Do not use alcohol or street drugs. Alcohol can speed up the damage to your liver. It can also reduce how well medicines work. If blood tests show that you do not have antibodies to hepatitis A and B, you should have the hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines. If you have not received a vaccine for hepatitis A or B or have not had these forms of hepatitis, you may need vaccination for them. Support Groups More information and support for people with HCV condition and their families can be found by joining a support group. Ask your provider about liver disease resources and support groups in your area. Outlook (Prognosis) Most people (75% to 85%) who are infected with the virus develop chronic HCV unless they get treatment for it. This condition poses a risk for cirrhosis and liver cancer. The outlook for HCV depends in part on the genotype. A good response to treatment occurs when the virus can no longer be detected in the blood 12 weeks or more after treatment. This is called "sustained virologic response" (SVR). Up to 90% of those treated for some genotypes have this type of response.Some people do not respond to the initial treatment. They may need to be re-treated with a different class of medicines.Also, some people can become re-infected or infected with a different genotype strain of HCV. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if:You develop symptoms of hepatitis You believe you have been exposed to HCV Prevention Steps that can be taken to help prevent the spread of HCV from one person to another include:Prevent the spread of HCVHepatitis B and hepatitis C infections cause irritation (inflammation) and swelling of the liver. You should take steps to prevent catching or sprea...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Health care workers should follow precautions when handling blood. Do not share needles with anyone. Do not get tattoos or body piercings or receive acupuncture from someone who does not have a permit or license. Do not share personal items, such as razors and toothbrushes. Practice safer sex.Safer sexSafe sex means taking steps before and during sex that can prevent you from getting an infection, or from giving an infection to your partner. These...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article If you or your sexual partner is infected with HCV and you have been in a stable and monogamous (no other partners) relationship, the risk of giving the virus to, or getting the virus from, the other person is low.HCV cannot be spread by casual contact, such as holding hands, kissing, coughing or sneezing, breastfeeding, sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses.Currently there is no vaccine for HCV.Open ReferencesReferencesBhattacharya D, Aronsohn A, Price J, Lo Re V; AASLD-IDSA HCV Guidance Panel. Hepatitis C Guidance 2023 Update: AASLD-IDSA recommendations for testing, managing, and treating hepatitis C virus infection. Clin Infect Dis. Published online May 25, 2023. PMID: 37229695 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37229695/.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis C. Hepatitis C basics. www.cdc.gov/hepatitis-c/about/. Updated January 31, 2025. Accessed May 19, 2025.Holmes JA, Chung RT. Hepatitis C. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 80.Naggie S, Wyles DL. Hepatitis C. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 154.Pawlotsky J-M. Chronic viral and autoimmune hepatitis. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 135.AllVideoImagesTogDigestive system - illustration The esophagus, stomach, large and small intestine, aided by the liver, gallbladder and pancreas convert the nutritive components of food into energy and break down the non-nutritive components into waste to be excreted.Digestive systemillustrationHepatitis C - illustration Hepatitis C is a virus-caused liver inflammation which may cause jaundice, fever and cirrhosis. Persons who are most at risk for contracting and spreading hepatitis C are those who share needles for injecting drugs and health care workers or emergency workers who may be exposed to contaminated blood. Hepatitis CillustrationDigestive system - illustration The esophagus, stomach, large and small intestine, aided by the liver, gallbladder and pancreas convert the nutritive components of food into energy and break down the non-nutritive components into waste to be excreted.Digestive systemillustrationHepatitis C - illustration Hepatitis C is a virus-caused liver inflammation which may cause jaundice, fever and cirrhosis. Persons who are most at risk for contracting and spreading hepatitis C are those who share needles for injecting drugs and health care workers or emergency workers who may be exposed to contaminated blood. Hepatitis Cillustration Tests for Hepatitis C Hepatitis virus panelRelated Information Hepatitis A(Condition)Hepatitis B(Condition)Cirrhosis(Condition)Hepatitis - InDepth(In-Depth)Cirrhosis - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 4/21/2025 Reviewed By: Todd Eisner, MD, Private practice specializing in Gastroenterology in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, Florida at Gastroenterology Consultants of Boca Raton. Affiliate Assistant Professor, Florida Atlantic University School of Medicine. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. 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Hepatitis CSustained virologic response - hepatitis C; SVR - hepatitis CHepatitis C is a viral disease that leads to swelling (inflammation) of the liver.Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersOther types of viral hepatitis include:Hepatitis A Hepatitis AHepatitis A is inflammation (irritation and swelling) of the liver from the hepatitis A virus.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hepatitis B Hepatitis BHepatitis B is irritation and swelling (inflammation) of the liver due to infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Other types of viral hepatitis ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hepatitis D Hepatitis DHepatitis D is a viral infection caused by the hepatitis D virus (previously called the Delta agent). It causes symptoms only in people who also hav...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hepatitis E Causes Hepatitis C infection is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Previous imagePlay SlideshowStop SlideshowNext image / You can catch hepatitis C if the blood of someone who has HCV enters your body. Exposure may occur:After a needle stick or sharps injury After a needle stick or sharps injuryBeing exposed to sharps (needles and other sharp medical instruments) or body fluids means that another person's blood or other body fluid touches yo...Read Article Now Book Mark Article If blood from someone who has HCV contacts a cut on your skin or contacts your eyes or mouth While injecting street drugs After a blood transfusionPeople at risk for HCV are those who:Inject street drugs or share a needle with someone who has HCV Have been on long-term kidney dialysis Have regular contact with blood at work (such as a health care worker) Have unprotected sexual contact with a person who has HCV Were born to a mother who had HCV Received a tattoo or acupuncture with needles that were not disinfected properly after being used on another person (risk is very low with practitioners who have a tattoo license or permit or an acupuncture license) Received an organ transplant from a donor who has HCV Share personal items, such as toothbrushes and razors, with someone who has HCV (less common) Received a blood transfusion (rare in the United States since blood screening became available in 1992) Blood transfusionThere are many reasons you may need a blood transfusion:After knee or hip replacement surgery, or other major surgery that results in blood lossAfter...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms Most people who are recently infected with HCV do not have symptoms. Some people have yellowing of the skin (jaundice). Chronic infection often causes no symptoms. But fatigue, abdominal pain, depression and other problems can occur.Persons who have long-term (chronic) infection often have no symptoms until their liver becomes scarred (cirrhosis). Many people with cirrhosis are ill and have many health problems. CirrhosisCirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The following symptoms may occur with HCV infection:Pain in the right upper abdomen Abdominal swelling due to fluid (ascites) AscitesAscites is the build-up of fluid in the space between the lining of the abdomen and abdominal organs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Clay-colored or pale stools Clay-colored or pale stoolsStools that are pale, clay, or putty-colored may be due to problems in the biliary system. The biliary system is the drainage system of the gallblad...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Dark urine Dark urineBlood in your urine is called hematuria. The amount may be very small and only detected with urine tests or under a microscope. In other cases, the...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Fatigue FatigueFatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Fever FeverFever is the temporary increase in the body's temperature in response to a disease or illness. A child has a fever when the temperature is at or abov...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Itching ItchingItching is a tingling or irritation of the skin that makes you want to scratch the area. Itching may occur all over the body or only in one location...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Jaundice Loss of appetite Nausea and vomiting Exams and Tests Blood tests are done to check for HCV:Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to detect HCV antibody Enzyme immunoassayELISA stands for enzyme-linked immunoassay. It is a commonly used laboratory test to detect antibodies in the blood. An antibody is a protein produ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the virus itself, to measure virus levels (viral load), and to identify the type of hepatitis C virusAll adults ages 18 to 79 should get a one-time test for HCV. This screening test checks for antibodies against HCV (anti-HCV). If the antibody test is positive, a PCR test is used to confirm HCV infection.Further genetic testing is done to check for the type of HCV (genotype). There are six types of the virus (genotypes 1 through 6). Test results can help your health care provider choose treatment that is best for you.The following tests are done to identify and monitor liver damage from HCV:Albumin level Albumin levelAlbumin is a protein made by the liver. A serum albumin test measures the amount of this protein in the clear liquid portion of the blood. Albumin c...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver function tests Liver function testsLiver function tests are common tests that are used to see how well the liver is working. Tests include:AlbuminAlpha-1 antitrypsinAlkaline phosphata...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Prothrombin time Prothrombin timeProthrombin time (PT) is a blood test that measures the time it takes for the liquid portion (plasma) of your blood to clot. It measures the functio...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver biopsy Liver biopsyA liver biopsy is a test that takes a sample of tissue from the liver for examination.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Transient elastography using ultrasound Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) Treatment You should talk to your provider about your treatment options and when treatment should begin. The goal of treatment is to rid the body of the virus. This can prevent liver damage that may lead to liver failure or liver cancer. Liver cancerHepatocellular carcinoma is cancer that starts in the liver.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment is especially important for people who are showing signs of liver fibrosis or scarring. Antiviral medicines are used to treat HCV. These medicines help fight HCV. Newer antiviral medicines:Provide an excellent cure rate Have fewer side effects and are easier to take than older medicines Are taken by mouth for 8 to 24 weeks The choice of which medicine depends on the genotype of HCV you have.A liver transplant may be recommended for people who develop cirrhosis or liver cancer. Your provider can tell you more about liver transplant.Liver transplantLiver transplant is surgery to replace a diseased liver with a healthy liver.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article If you have HCV:Do not take over-the-counter medicines that you have not taken before without asking your provider. Also ask about vitamins and other supplements. Do not use alcohol or street drugs. Alcohol can speed up the damage to your liver. It can also reduce how well medicines work. If blood tests show that you do not have antibodies to hepatitis A and B, you should have the hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines. If you have not received a vaccine for hepatitis A or B or have not had these forms of hepatitis, you may need vaccination for them. Support Groups More information and support for people with HCV condition and their families can be found by joining a support group. Ask your provider about liver disease resources and support groups in your area. Outlook (Prognosis) Most people (75% to 85%) who are infected with the virus develop chronic HCV unless they get treatment for it. This condition poses a risk for cirrhosis and liver cancer. The outlook for HCV depends in part on the genotype. A good response to treatment occurs when the virus can no longer be detected in the blood 12 weeks or more after treatment. This is called "sustained virologic response" (SVR). Up to 90% of those treated for some genotypes have this type of response.Some people do not respond to the initial treatment. They may need to be re-treated with a different class of medicines.Also, some people can become re-infected or infected with a different genotype strain of HCV. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if:You develop symptoms of hepatitis You believe you have been exposed to HCV Prevention Steps that can be taken to help prevent the spread of HCV from one person to another include:Prevent the spread of HCVHepatitis B and hepatitis C infections cause irritation (inflammation) and swelling of the liver. You should take steps to prevent catching or sprea...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Health care workers should follow precautions when handling blood. Do not share needles with anyone. Do not get tattoos or body piercings or receive acupuncture from someone who does not have a permit or license. Do not share personal items, such as razors and toothbrushes. Practice safer sex.Safer sexSafe sex means taking steps before and during sex that can prevent you from getting an infection, or from giving an infection to your partner. These...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article If you or your sexual partner is infected with HCV and you have been in a stable and monogamous (no other partners) relationship, the risk of giving the virus to, or getting the virus from, the other person is low.HCV cannot be spread by casual contact, such as holding hands, kissing, coughing or sneezing, breastfeeding, sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses.Currently there is no vaccine for HCV.Open ReferencesReferencesBhattacharya D, Aronsohn A, Price J, Lo Re V; AASLD-IDSA HCV Guidance Panel. Hepatitis C Guidance 2023 Update: AASLD-IDSA recommendations for testing, managing, and treating hepatitis C virus infection. Clin Infect Dis. Published online May 25, 2023. PMID: 37229695 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37229695/.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis C. Hepatitis C basics. www.cdc.gov/hepatitis-c/about/. Updated January 31, 2025. Accessed May 19, 2025.Holmes JA, Chung RT. Hepatitis C. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 80.Naggie S, Wyles DL. Hepatitis C. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 154.Pawlotsky J-M. Chronic viral and autoimmune hepatitis. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 135.
