What Is Hep C?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hepatitis C is a type of contagious liver disease that affects more than 3.2 million people in the United States. The CDC reports that nearly 17,000 people were diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2007.

Types

• Hepatitis C can either be acute or chronic, says the CDC. Acute hepatitis C is a short-term illness that occurs within six months of disease transmission, while chronic hepatitis C is a serious condition that can last a lifetime. In most cases, acute hepatitis C develops into chronic hepatitis C.

Symptoms

• The CDC reports that 75 percent of people infected with hepatitis C do not experience any symptoms. If symptoms occur, they may include fever, nausea, vomiting, joint pain and jaundice.

Time Frame

• Symptoms generally appear six to seven weeks after transmission of the disease if they do appear, says the CDC.

Transmission

• According to the CDC, hepatitis C is transmitted sexually or by coming into contact with the blood of an infected person, such as sharing contaminated needles.

Treatment

• There is no cure for hepatitis C. Doctors most often prescribe a combination of two medications, interferon and ribavirin, to help treat the symptoms of hepatitis C.

Warning

• The CDC cautions chronic hepatitis C can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer and can cause other serious conditions, including liver failure or even death.