Experiences with
Hepatitis CSymptoms of hepatitis C
Hepatitis C often does not have any noticeable symptoms until the liver has been significantly damaged.
This means many people have the infection without realising it.
When symptoms do occur, they can be mistaken for another condition.
Symptoms can include:
- flu-like symptoms, such as muscle aches and a high temperature (fever)
- feeling tired all the time
- loss of appetite
- stomach ache
- feeling and being sick
The only way to know for certain if these symptoms are caused by hepatitis C is to get tested.
How do you get hepatitis C?
The hepatitis C virus is usually spread through blood-to-blood contact.
Some ways the infection can be spread include:
- sharing unsterilised needles – particularly needles used to inject recreational drugs
- sharing razors or toothbrushes
- from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby
- through unprotected sex – although this is very rare
In the UK, most hepatitis C infections happen in people who inject drugs or have injected them in the past.
It's estimated around half of those who inject drugs have been infected with the virus.
Hepatitis C from infected blood before 1996
If you received a blood transfusion before 1996, there's a chance you may have been infected with hepatitis C.
If you had a blood transfusion before 1996 and you've not been tested for hepatitis C, contact your GP surgery to discuss any tests you may need.
You can also get a free home test for hepatitis C.
Find out more about support for people who may have been affected by infected blood.
Treatments for hepatitis C
Hepatitis C can be treated with medicines that stop the virus multiplying inside the body. These usually need to be taken for several weeks.
Until recently, most people would have taken 2 main medicines called pegylated interferon (a weekly injection) and ribavirin (a capsule or tablet).
Tablet-only treatments are now available.
These new hepatitis C medicines have been found to make treatment more effective, are easier to tolerate, and have shorter treatment courses.
They include sofosbuvir and daclatasvir.
Using the latest medications, more than 90% of people with hepatitis C may be cured.
But it's important to be aware that you will not be immune to the infection and should take steps to reduce your risk of becoming infected again.
Preventing hepatitis C
There's no vaccine for hepatitis C, but there are ways to reduce your risk of becoming infected.
These include:
- not sharing any drug-injecting equipment with other people – including needles and other equipment, such as syringes, spoons and filters
- not sharing razors or toothbrushes that might be contaminated with blood
The risk of getting hepatitis C through sex is very low. But it may be higher if blood is present, such as menstrual blood or from minor bleeding during anal sex.
Condoms are not usually necessary to prevent hepatitis C for long-term heterosexual couples, but it's a good idea to use them when having anal sex or sex with a new partner.
SymptomsMedical treatmentsCausesPreventionThere are often no symptoms of hepatitis C at first. Some people get symptoms like muscle aches, a high temperature, tiredness and tummy pain.
Hepatitis C can usually be treated with antiviral medicines. These need to be taken for several weeks.
You can catch hepatitis C from contact with the blood of an infected person, such as by sharing needles. It's very rare to catch it from having sex.
You can reduce your risk of catching hepatitis C by not sharing needles, razors or toothbrushes with other people.
Things you can do during treatment for hepatitis C
There are some things you can do to help limit any damage to your liver and prevent the infection spreading to others.
These can include:
- eating a healthy, balanced diet
- exercising regularly
- cutting out alcohol or limiting how much you drink
- quitting smoking
- keeping personal items, such as toothbrushes or razors, for your own use
- not sharing any needles or syringes with others
- practising safer sex
- telling sexual partners who might need to get tested
Related links
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