Signs and Symptoms

• jaundice
• fatigue
• dark urine
• abdominal pain
• loss of appetite
• nausea
• Important Fact!
  80% of people infected with hepatitis C have no signs or symptoms

How is Hepatitis C Transmitted?

• Occurs when blood or body fluids from an infected person enters the body of a person who is not infected.
• HCV is spread through sharing needles or "works" when "shooting" drugs, through needlesticks or sharps exposures on the job, or from an infected mother to her baby during birth

Who's at Risk for Getting HIV?

• Injecting drug users
• Recipients of clotting factors made before 1987
• Hemodialysis patients
• Recipients of blood and/or solid organs before 1992
• Infants born to infected mothers
• Healthcare/public safety workers

How Can Hepatitis C Be Prevented?

• Important Fact!
  There is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C.
• Do not shoot drugs; if you shoot drugs, stop and get into a treatment program; if you can't stop, never share needles, syringes, water, or "works", and get vaccinated against hepatitis A & B.
  Risk Reduction for Injection Drug Users
  
• Do not share personal care items that might have blood on them (razors, toothbrushes)
• If you are a health care or public safety worker, always follow routine barrier precautions and safely handle needles and other sharps; get vaccinated against hepatitis B.
• HCV can be spread by sex, but this is rare. If you are having sex with more than one steady sex partner, use latex condoms correctly and every time to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. You should also get vaccinated against hepatitis B.
  What are Universal Precautions?
  

• If you are HCV positive, do not donate blood, organs, or tissue.

Treatment & Medical Management

• HCV positive persons should be evaluated by their doctor for liver disease.
• Interferon and ribavirin are two drugs licensed for the treatment of persons with chronic hepatitis C.
• Interferon can be taken alone or in combination with ribavirin. Combination therapy is currently the treatment of choice.
• Combination therapy, using pegylated interferon and ribavirin, can get rid of the virus in up to40% of those with genotype 1 and up to 80% for those with genotype 2 or 3.
• Drinking alcohol can make your liver disease worse.
  Hepatitis C Med Fact Sheets