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Hepatitis C (HCV) is an infection that causes inflammation of the liver. It spreads through contact with an infected person's blood or body fluids. The most common ways that you could acquire HCV infection are through injected drug use, unprotected sex, a medical procedure using contaminated equipment, or through an injury or wound that exposes you to blood infected with HCV.

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Most people roughly 70%-80% with acute Hep C infection do not show any signs or experience any symptoms. If symptoms do occur they can appear anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months after becoming infected. If symptoms do develop some can mistaken as flu-like and may include:
*Feeling very tired
*Sore muscles
*Joint pain
*Fever
*Nausea or poor appetite
*Stomach pain
*Itchy skin
*Dark urine
*A yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes, called jaundice.

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The virus is usually diagnosed with a blood test. An antibody test can detect whether your body has had to fight an HCV infection. Sometimes, liver function test, imaging studies, or a biopsy can support or confirm the diagnosis as well.

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You can be at an increase of infection if you've done any of the following. If you've shared needles to inject drugs or shared a straw to inhale them. If you've gotten a tattoo or piercing in an enviroment that was unclean. Recieved a blood transfusion or organ transplant before July 1992. Needed to have your blood filtered by dialysis for a long period of time because your kidneys weren’t working. Was born to a mother with the virus.

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Living with the Hep C Virus requires some lifestyle changes. New treatments have made it possible to avoid many of the complications of HCV, but you still need to avoid certain food and medications, and you may need to deal with the emotional, social, and financial impact of the illness.

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What can you do to prevent contracting the virus?

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What can you do to prevent contracting the virus?

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There is no vaccine to prevent Hep C, but there are things being done to develop one. However, there are vaccines for the A and B strands. Remember that the virus is spread through blood and body fluid from the infected person. So the best way to prevent it is, not to share needles if you're doing drugs, or better yet go get treatment. Make sure all tattoo or piercing equipment is sterilized. Use condoms during intercourse if you have multiple partners.