Overview
Hepatitis C is a viral liver infection that, until recently, had no good treatment — but that changed completely. Today's direct-acting antiviral (DAA) medications cure more than 95% of cases in a simple 8–12 week course of pills, with very few side effects. About 70% of people exposed develop chronic infection, often without symptoms for years, while quietly causing liver scarring. If you were born before 1990, had a blood transfusion before 1995, or have unexplained liver enzyme elevation — get tested. Cure is now within reach.
Symptoms
Most people have no symptoms for 10–20 years
Fatigue and brain fog
Mild upper-right abdominal discomfort
Joint and muscle aches
Itchy skin
Late signs: jaundice, swelling, easy bruising — these mean cirrhosis
How It's Transmitted
Sharing needles or syringes (most common today)
Blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1995
Unsterile medical, dental, tattoo, or body-piercing equipment
Sharing personal items with infected blood (razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers)
Mother-to-child transmission (about 5% — much lower than HBV)
Sexual transmission is uncommon but possible
Treatment & After-Care
Get tested with an HCV antibody blood test, then a confirmatory PCR if positive
Modern DAA medications (sofosbuvir-based) cure >95% of cases — usually 8–12 weeks of pills
Treatment is well-tolerated; most people work normally during it
Avoid alcohol — it accelerates liver damage and reduces treatment success
Cure is confirmed by a negative PCR 12 weeks after finishing treatment
After cure, you cannot transmit the virus and the liver gradually heals
If cirrhosis was already present, continue 6-monthly liver-cancer screening with ultrasound
Who Should Be Tested
Get tested if you ever received a blood transfusion or surgery before 1995, used IV drugs even once, have unexplained elevated liver enzymes, are HIV-positive, were born to a mother with HCV, or had any unsterile medical or cosmetic procedure. Today's treatment is so effective that everyone testing positive should be considered for cure.