STIS and HIV

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is an infection of the liver. The virus causes so few symptoms and most people don’t know that they have the disease.

There are many types of hepatitis C virus. The most common in the U.S. is type 1. No type is more serious than any other, but they respond differently to treatment.

Symptoms of hepatitis C include:

• Jaundice (a condition that causes yellow eyes and skin, as well as dark urine)
• Stomach pain
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Fatigue

How do you get hepatitis C?

You get the hepatitis C virus from the blood or body fluids of an infected person.

It can be spread by:

• Sharing drugs and needles
• Having sex, especially if you have an STI, an HIV infection, several sex partners, or have rough sex.
• Being stuck by infected needles
• Through birth from a birth parent to child

Hepatitis C is not spread through food, water, or by casual contact.

Treatment

Treatment for hepatitis C keeps changing quickly. Until recently, most people with hepatitis C had to take a blend of shots and pills that often came with some unpleasant side effects. However, some of the newer drugs cure more people in less time with fewer and milder side effects.