<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\nHepatitis C is usually transmitted through contact with infected blood and blood products. This may include needle sharing, such as with drug injections, or from tattooing. While less common, it can also spread through unprotected sex, from a birthing parent with HCV to their baby while giving birth, and medical procedures with cross-contamination.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\nYour healthcare provider, such as a primary care doctor, can diagnose hepatitis C. After that, they may ask you to see a specialist, such as a hepatologist (a doctor who specializes in liver care), a gastroenterologist (a doctor specializing in digestive diseases), or an infectious disease expert.\n<\/p>\n\n <\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\nZay Nyi Nyi \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n
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<\/span> <\/p>\n Getting a Diagnosis <\/span> <\/h2>\n\nYour doctors will need to take your medical history, perform a physical exam, and request diagnostic tests to diagnose hepatitis C.\n<\/p>\n
Medical History <\/span> <\/h3>\n\nA diagnosis usually begins with reviewing your medical history. Your healthcare provider will ask if you are experiencing any possible symptoms of hepatitis C, such as:<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n\nFatigue<\/li>\n Malaise, a feeling of general discomfort <\/li>\n Weight loss<\/li>\n Bleeding easily <\/li>\n Bruising easily <\/li>\n Itchy skin<\/li>\n Jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin<\/li>\n Dark-colored urine<\/li>\n Very light-colored poop<\/li>\n Pain in your abdomen <\/li>\n Nausea and vomiting<\/li>\n Joint pain <\/li>\n Swollen arms and legs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\nMany people with hepatitis C don't show any symptoms. Because of this, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends HCV screening for everyone aged 18-79 years, even if you don\u2019t have any signs of liver disease.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\nYour healthcare provider will also want to know if you have a high risk for the condition. They may ask if you:<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\nHad any blood transfusions, shared injections, or medical procedures like dialysis or organ transplants<\/li>\n Share personal items like razors, nail cutters, and clippers<\/li>\n Work in a place where you are exposed to used needles and blood<\/li>\n Were born to a birthing parent with hepatitis C<\/li>\n Use injected drugs or have used them in the past\u00a0<\/li>\n Have hemophilia, a condition that causes lack of blood clotting<\/li>\n Have tattoos or piercings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Physical Examination <\/span> <\/h3>\n\nAlong with asking about your history of possible symptoms, your healthcare provider may also examine you for signs of hepatitis C. Some things they\u2019ll examine are your:<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\nSkin for changes in color, as well as spidery blood vessel patterns (called spider angioma)<\/li>\n Arms and feet for signs of swelling\u00a0<\/li>\n Abdomen for signs of tenderness, swelling, and enlarged organs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nHepatitis C Symptoms<\/span><\/p>\n Blood Tests <\/span> <\/h3>\n\nAfter the physical exam, your doctor may request some tests that can identify hepatitis C in your blood. Each test will require a blood sample that is then examined in a lab. Some of these tests are:\n<\/p>\n
\nHepatitis C Antibody Test:<\/strong> This <\/strong>screening test detects HCV antibodies in your blood, which are specific proteins in your immune system. A positive antibody test means you have been exposed to HCV in the past: this could mean you either have a current infection or your body may have cleared the virus. Some people with HCV can clear the virus\u2014or recover from it\u2014either spontaneously without treatment or after taking treatments for HCV.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\nIf your hepatitis C antibody test is positive, you\u2019ll need a confirmatory test like the hepatitis C RNA test, which can determine if you currently have hepatitis C.\n<\/p>\n
\nHepatitis C RNA Test<\/strong>: This confirmatory test detects the RNA\u2014a type of genetic material\u2014from the hepatitis C virus. The hepatitis C RNA test can detect an ongoing hepatitis C infection and help estimate how much virus is in your blood (known as the viral load).<\/span> This information can help your healthcare provider choose the best treatments for you and monitor how well the treatments are working.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\nGenotype Testing:<\/strong> There are seven major strains or genotypes of hepatitis C, named genotype 1\u20137. In the United States, genotype 1 is the most common strain, accounting for 60% or more of HCV cases. Genotype testing is a specific blood test that helps your healthcare provider determine the strain of HCV, which can help them tailor your treatments accordingly.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\nHepatitis C Core Antigen Test: <\/strong>This test measures the hepatitis C core antigen in your blood. It is not as accurate as the HCV RNA test and may fail to detect mild infections or those with low viral levels. But where HCV RNA is unavailable, doctors may use it along with antibody testing to detect HCV infections.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/span> <\/p>\n Imaging Tests <\/span> <\/h2>\n\nYour doctors may also ask you to do some imaging tests to assess your liver and determine if there\u2019s any damage.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\nMagnetic resonance elastography (MRE): <\/strong> This is a non-invasive test that combines magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with an ultrasound to create a picture of your liver’s health. This test can detect scarring of the liver (called fibrosis) due to chronic hepatitis C and other liver conditions. A common complication of long-term hepatitis C is cirrhosis, a severe stage of liver scarring.<\/li>\nTransient elastography<\/strong>: This is another non-invasive test that uses ultrasound to assess the condition of your liver. A damaged liver will have some stiffness, which this test easily detects. <\/li>\nLiver biopsy<\/strong>: A liver biopsy can be used to examine your liver condition more closely. During the procedure, a healthcare provider will administer local anesthesia and insert a thin needle into your abdomen to take a small sample of liver tissue. This liver sample is taken for further testing in a lab.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/span> <\/p>\n Types of Hepatitis C <\/span> <\/h2>\n\nAside from the specific genotype of HCV, the type of hepatitis C can vary by how long the condition lasts. It\u2019s separated into two groups: acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term).<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\nAcute infection: <\/strong>All cases of HCV begin as acute infections. You could have a brief infection and your body eventually clears the virus\u2014either on its own or with treatment. Between 15-45% of people with HCV clear the virus within 6 months, meaning their case stays acute.<\/li>\nChronic infection: <\/strong>The remaining people with HCV (55-85%) will have the virus for longer than 6 months, making it chronic. Your immune system may not be able to recover from the virus on its own. However, a healthcare provider can prescribe antiviral treatments, which can prevent worsening symptoms and in some cases, help clear the virus. Chronic hepatitis C may become a lifelong condition.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\nResearch suggests that chronic HCV infections are more likely to get worse in people who also have:<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\nAlcohol use disorder<\/li>\n Cirrhosis, or severe scarring of the liver\u00a0<\/li>\n Hepatitis B, or liver inflammation that is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\nIf not treated, chronic HCV infections can lead to permanent liver damage, seen in conditions like cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure.\n<\/p>\n
What Is Hepatitis C?<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span> <\/p>\n Screening for Related Conditions <\/span> <\/h2>\n\nSeveral diseases of the digestive system\u2014especially liver conditions\u2014have similar symptoms as hepatitis C. Your healthcare provider will also want to check for any of the following conditions.\n<\/p>\n
\nOther liver conditions with similar symptoms to hepatitis C include:<\/span>\n<\/p>\n