Viral

Hepatitis C

Primarily blood-borne — now curable with highly effective direct-acting antivirals.

Cause

Virus (HCV)

Asymptomatic

~80% acute; often chronic too

Curable

Yes — DAAs (95%+ cure rate)

Vaccine

Overview

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a liver infection spread mainly through blood-to-blood contact. Sexual transmission occurs but is significantly less efficient than HBV or HIV. Risk increases with anal sex, concurrent STIs causing mucosal bleeding, or multiple partners. Untreated chronic HCV can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer over decades. The development of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) has transformed treatment — cure rates exceed 95% with an 8–12 week course.

How it spreads

Sharing needles, syringes, or drug equipment (most common route)
Blood transfusions or medical procedures (before screening era)
Sexual transmission — particularly anal sex with mucosal damage
Concurrent STIs (especially ulcerative ones) increase sexual transmission risk
Mother to child during birth (less common than HBV)
Sharing personal items with blood exposure (razors, tattoo equipment)

Symptoms

Fatigue and malaise
Nausea and abdominal pain
Jaundice (less common in acute phase)
Dark urine
Joint pain

Acute HCV is asymptomatic in ~80% of cases. The virus may spontaneously clear in ~20–30% of acute infections; the remainder develop chronic infection and may remain asymptomatic for 10–30 years while liver damage progresses silently. Testing is the only way to know.

Vaccine

No vaccine is currently available for Hepatitis C.

Treatment

Hepatitis C is now curable. Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) such as sofosbuvir/velpatasvir achieve >95% cure rates in 8–12 weeks with minimal side effects. Treatment is recommended for all people with chronic HCV. Successful treatment eliminates the virus and halts liver damage progression.

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Educational purposes only. Consult a healthcare provider for personal medical advice.