what is hepatitis c

Hepatitis C is an infectious disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) that primarily affects the liver. It is a type of viral hepatitis. The infection can be either acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term). Many people with hepatitis C initially have mild or no symptoms, but if the infection becomes chronic, it may lead to serious liver problems including liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer over time. The hepatitis C virus is mainly spread through blood-to-blood contact. Common transmission routes include sharing needles or other equipment for injecting drugs, poorly sterilized medical equipment, needlestick injuries in healthcare, and blood transfusions with unscreened blood. It can also be passed from an infected mother to her baby during birth, but it is not spread through casual contact such as hugging or sharing food. Symptoms, when they occur, can include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, and yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice). For many, the infection is asymptomatic, especially early on. Diagnosis is done through blood tests to detect antibodies to the virus or viral RNA. There is currently no vaccine against hepatitis C, but it can be treated and cured with antiviral medications, especially newer direct-acting antivirals that cure more than 95% of cases. If untreated, chronic hepatitis C can cause serious and potentially life-threatening liver damage. It remains one of the leading causes of liver cancer and liver transplantation.