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.
Share this with someone who needs it: