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Hepatitis C is a disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV).
Most people feel well, have no symptoms and don't know they have hepatitis C infection. Some people may have a brief illness with symptoms usually appearing six to twelve weeks after being infected with the virus. Others may experience long-term health concerns such as tiredness, lack of energy, or digestive problems.
Symptoms of acute hepatitis C infection may include fever, tiredness, jaundice (yellow skin or eyes), abdominal pain, dark urine, loss of appetite, and nausea (sick to your stomach).
The total number of people in Canada who have hepatitis C is believed to be about 300,000. This means that about one in every one hundred people in Canada have hepatitis C.
Many have not been tested and do not know they have the disease. There are about 4,000 new cases of hepatitis C virus infection in Canada each year.
People at higher risk of having hepatitis C infection include:
All blood products and donors in Canada are now screened for hepatitis C virus. The risk of infection from a blood transfusion or blood products is now very low, estimated at less than 1 in 500,000 units of blood donated.
There is a risk for hepatitis C virus infection in countries where the blood supply is not tested or where infection can occur through unclean medical equipment.
After the hepatitis C virus infects your body, antibodies appear in your blood. There are blood tests available to detect the presence of the virus itself, and the antibodies to the virus.
While a few people will recover from the infection and clear the virus from their body, most people will be chronically infected. This means that the person is capable of spreading the infection to others.
At this time, there is no vaccine to prevent people from getting hepatitis C infection.
Hepatitis C virus infection is usually spread by blood-to-blood contact with infected blood.
Infection can occur through:
There is a very low but real risk of passing on the virus through other body fluids such as saliva, semen, vaginal secretions or breast milk.
Hepatitis C is not known to be spread by:
People who test positive for hepatitis C should see their family doctor regularly and have their blood tested to see how their liver is functioning. They may also be referred to a specialist for further testing and assessment.
Some people with hepatitis C virus infection will be eligible for treatment that may clear the virus from their body. Some people with severe liver damage will require a liver transplant.
Yes. Vaccines that will protect you from hepatitis A, hepatitis B, pneumococcal disease and influenza are provided free to people infected with hepatitis C. You can get these shots from your local health unit or family doctor.
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