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Hepatitis C

An infection caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), that attacks liver cells leads to inflammation

Hepatitis C is usually spread when the blood from a person infected with Hepatitis C virus enters the body of someone who is not infected.

Many people with Hepatitis C do not have symptoms and do not know they are infected. The following symptoms may occur and they include, but not limited to fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, upset stomach, nausea and vomiting, dark urine, grey-colored stool, joint pain, and yellow skin and eyes. Symptoms can occur anytime from 2 weeks to 6 months after infection. Chronic infections occur in up to 85% of cases since patients don’t have symptoms. Chronic infections may lead to cirrhosis and/or liver cancer. Diagnosis usually occurs with blood tests to detect HCV antibodies and how much virus is in your body. With adequate treatment, up to 90% of patients can be cured.

About 1-2% of the population in the United States has chronic HCV infection and about 3% of the world’s population are HCV positive. Prevalence varies greatly among geographic locations with the highest occurrence in Africa, Middle East, Central and East Asia. The incidence of HCV is about 17,000 new infections per year in the United States.

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About 1-2% of the population in the United States has chronic HCV infection and about 3% of the world’s population are HCV positive.