Hepatitis C is an infection caused by the hepatitis C virus that affects the liver.
Hepatitis C is a blood borne virus which means it is spread through blood.
In some people, the body gets rid of or “clears” the virus within 6 months after infection.
Most people are unable to “clear” the virus and will have long term infection, called chronic hepatitis C infection. Without treatment, chronic hepatitis C infection can cause serious health problems including liver damage/scarring, liver cancer and liver failure.
You can get hepatitis C again even if you have cleared the virus or have been treated and cured. The body does not develop lifelong protection following hepatitis C infection.
Many people with acute hepatitis C infection will not have symptoms.
If there are symptoms, they usually begin a few weeks after infection and can include:
Symptoms usually last several weeks.
Some people with acute hepatitis C infection can get better without treatment (i.e. the body’s immune system ‘clears’ the infection).
80% of people with hepatitis C will develop chronic (long-lasting) infection.
Chronic hepatitis C is when the body does not ‘clear’ the initial infection in the first 6 months.
People with chronic hepatitis C will often have no symptoms. Some people have the same symptoms as acute hepatitis C infection and some people only develop symptoms with other more serious liver problems. Chronic hepatitis C infection is serious and can lead to liver damage (cirrhosis), liver cancer or liver failure. These conditions can be fatal.
Hepatitis C can be spread through contact with blood that contains hepatitis C virus. If infected blood or bodily fluids with blood enter another person’s bloodstream, that person can become infected. The amount of blood might be so small that it’s invisible to the eye.
The infection can come through broken or penetrated skin, mucous membranes (mouth or genitals), or the eyes.
It can spread through:
Rarely, hepatitis C may also be transmitted:
Hepatitis C is not spread by casual contact such as hugging or shaking/holding hands, kissing on the cheek, coughing or sneezing, sharing food or utensils.
In Australia, people who may have a higher risk of hepatitis C infection are:
There is no vaccination to prevent hepatitis C.
The best way to protect against hepatitis C is to avoid blood to blood contact.
People can reduce this risk by:
Sterile needles and syringes can be obtained from your local needle and syringe program. These are free, anonymous and confidential services. You can also get sterile needles and syringes from some pharmacies.
People who think they may be at risk of hepatitis C or possibly had past exposure to hepatitis C should see their doctor for a test.
Hepatitis C is detected by a blood test.
A test for hepatitis C can be part of a general health or sexual health check up. It is recommended for anyone who thinks they might be at risk of infection.
There are two types of tests that can be used to diagnose hepatitis C in NSW:
It can take between 6 – 12 weeks after exposure for the test to become positive. This is called the window period between the exposure and when a test can detect hepatitis C in your body. So, your result could be negative while you have an active infection. More than one test may be needed.
Antiviral medicines for hepatitis C are safe, easy to take and highly effective. These medicines:
Hepatitis C treatment improves people’s liver health by stopping liver damage caused by the hepatitis C virus, allowing for the liver to repair itself. Once cure is confirmed, hepatitis C virus can no longer transmit to another person.
After curative treatment, it is important that you have regular check-ups for liver function and/or liver scanning with your doctor.
If you have been diagnosed with hepatitis C, you should:
If you are pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, make sure you talk to your doctor about your antenatal care and what to do when your baby is born.