Hepatitis C - Disease Fact Sheet Series
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2WISCONSIN DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Department of Health Services
Hepatitis C
Disease Fact Sheet Series
What is hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is found in the blood of
persons who have this disease.
How is the virus spread?
HCV is spread primarily by exposure to human blood from an infected person. It can also be spread
sexually or perinatally from an infected mother to her infant. Blood products, organs, tissues, semen
and vaginal secretions from an infected person are sources for potential HCV infection transmission.
HCV is not spread by casual contact such as hugging, sneezing, coughing or sharing food. However,
sharing razors or toothbrushes with an infected person could spread HCV.
Who should be tested for hepatitis C?
•
Persons who ever injected illegal drugs, including those who injected once or a few times
many years ago.
•
Persons who were treated for clotting problems with a blood product made before 1987.
•
Persons who were notified that they received blood from a donor who later tested positive for
hepatitis C.
•
Persons who received a blood transfusion or solid organ transplant before July 1992.
•
Long-term hemodialysis patients.
•
Persons who have signs or symptoms of liver disease (e.g., abnormal liver enzyme tests).
•
Healthcare workers and others (e.g., family members) after significant exposures (e.g., needle
sticks or splashes to the eye) while caring for or assisting an HCV-infected person.
•
Children born to HCV-positive women.
•
Sexual partners of HCV infected persons, although the risk of transmission is low.
What are the signs and symptoms of HCV infection?
Most (90%) HCV infections are not symptomatic. A few individuals experience elevated (seven times
the normal range) or fluctuating levels of the liver enzyme alanine aminotransferase, loss of appetite,
fatigue, nausea and vomiting, vague abdominal pain and jaundice. Of persons infected with HCV,
15% may develop cirrhosis over a period of 20 to 30 years, and 5% may die from the consequences
of long term infection (liver cancer or cirrhosis).
How soon do signs or symptoms occur?
Persons with acute illness usually develop symptoms 6-7 weeks after exposure. Hepatitis C antibody
(anti-HCV) can be found in 7 out of 10 persons when symptoms begin and in about 9 out of 10
persons within 3 months after symptoms begin.
When and for how long is a person able to transmit HCV?
Some persons carry the virus in their blood and may remain contagious for years. A chronic carrier
state may develop in as many as 75-85% of infected persons.
Are there treatments for hepatitis C?
The FDA has approved three drugs to treat HCV infection. Patients are advised to consult their
medical providers about treatment options. Immune globulin (IG) is not effective for post-exposure
prophylaxis of hepatitis C.
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