Hepatitis C Program
What is Hepatis C?
Hepatitis C is a serious liver disease caused by the Hepatitis C virus. Some people get only a short term, or acute, infection and are able to clear the virus without treatment. If someone clears the virus, this usually happens within 6 months after infection. However, about 80% of people who get infected develop a chronic, or lifelong, infection. Over time, chronic Hepatitis C can cause serious health problems including liver damage, liver failure, and even liver cancer.
Community Care provides support and treatment for those dealing with Hepatitis C.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of Hepatitis C can include: fever, feeling tired, not wanting to eat, upset stomach, throwing up, dark urine, grey-colored stool, joint pain, and yellow skin and eyes. However, many people who get Hepatitis C do not have symptoms and do not know they are infected.
Why is treatment important, even if I don’t have symptoms?
Treatment of Hepatitis C is important due to the damage it causes to the liver over time – even when there are no symptoms. This damage can lead to cirrhosis (liver failure) and hepatocellular carcinoma (a form of liver cancer), among other issues. These are serious conditions with high rates of death, hospitalization, and other negative outcomes.