The 411 on Hepatitis C

What you need to know about this deadly liver infection.

July 28 Is World Hepatitis Day - With World Hepatitis Day right around the corner this July 28, it’s important to focus on a form of hepatitis that is a serious problem, not just around the world, but in the U.S. — Hepatitis C (HCV). Learn more about this deadly liver disease, how it’s transmitted, its current treatment and how it impacts African-Americans. — Kellee Terrell(Photo: World Health Organization)

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July 28 Is World Hepatitis Day - With World Hepatitis Day right around the corner this July 28, it’s important to focus on a form of hepatitis that is a serious problem, not just around the world, but in the U.S. — Hepatitis C (HCV). Learn more about this deadly liver disease, how it’s transmitted, its current treatment and how it impacts African-Americans. — Kellee Terrell(Photo: World Health Organization)

What Is Hep C? - According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hep C can be acute, which means being sick for a short time — around six months after being exposed — or chronic, where it becomes a lifetime illness that can lead to serious liver problems, such as cirrhosis (liver scarring), liver cancer and even death. However, in 15-20 percent of cases, the virus can cure itself. (Photo: SEBASTIAN KAULITZKI/Science Photo Library/Corbis)

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What Is Hep C? - According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hep C can be acute, which means being sick for a short time — around six months after being exposed — or chronic, where it becomes a lifetime illness that can lead to serious liver problems, such as cirrhosis (liver scarring), liver cancer and even death. However, in 15-20 percent of cases, the virus can cure itself. (Photo: SEBASTIAN KAULITZKI/Science Photo Library/Corbis)

How Is Hep C Transmitted? - You can get HCV by sharing needles or syringes, needle stick injuries in hospitals or being born to a mother with Hep C. While a lower risk, people can also contract hepatitis C from unprotected sex and sharing razors and toothbrushes with someone who is infected. FYI: You cannot get it by sharing forks and spoons, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing, sneezing or from the air or water. (Photo: VOISIN/PHANIE/phanie/Phanie Sarl/Corbis)

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How Is Hep C Transmitted? - You can get HCV by sharing needles or syringes, needle stick injuries in hospitals or being born to a mother with Hep C. While a lower risk, people can also contract hepatitis C from unprotected sex and sharing razors and toothbrushes with someone who is infected. FYI: You cannot get it by sharing forks and spoons, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing, sneezing or from the air or water. (Photo: VOISIN/PHANIE/phanie/Phanie Sarl/Corbis)

Can You Get It From Tattoos? - If you go to a reputable certified tattoo or piercing parlor, then your chances of getting infected are slim to none. But with a rise in amateur tattoo and piercing artists working in places such as prisons and people’s homes that may not use sterilized equipment, it can increase your risk. So be mindful of where you get tatted up. (Photo: Matt Blyth/Getty Images)

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Can You Get It From Tattoos? - If you go to a reputable certified tattoo or piercing parlor, then your chances of getting infected are slim to none. But with a rise in amateur tattoo and piercing artists working in places such as prisons and people’s homes that may not use sterilized equipment, it can increase your risk. So be mindful of where you get tatted up. (Photo: Matt Blyth/Getty Images)

What Are the Symptoms? - Common symptoms include: Fever, fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, dark urine, joint pain, yellow color in your skin and eyes, vomiting and loss of appetite. HCV is tricky in that it can show symptoms in as a little as two weeks to six months in some folks, but 70-80 percent of those infected don’t show signs of the disease until years later, when the disease is advanced. (Photo: JGI/Jamie Grill/Blend Images/Corbis)

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What Are the Symptoms? - Common symptoms include: Fever, fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, dark urine, joint pain, yellow color in your skin and eyes, vomiting and loss of appetite. HCV is tricky in that it can show symptoms in as a little as two weeks to six months in some folks, but 70-80 percent of those infected don’t show signs of the disease until years later, when the disease is advanced. (Photo: JGI/Jamie Grill/Blend Images/Corbis)

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How Do You Know If You Have It? - Most cases, the best way to know if you have HCV is get tested for it. If you are concerned, talk to your doctor about it. If you test positive, talk to your doctor about your options, how advanced your disease is and when you should start treatment. Also, you should stay away from alcohol because it can cause more liver damage. (Photo: Hero Images/Corbis)

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How Do You Know If You Have It? - Most cases, the best way to know if you have HCV is get tested for it. If you are concerned, talk to your doctor about it. If you test positive, talk to your doctor about your options, how advanced your disease is and when you should start treatment. Also, you should stay away from alcohol because it can cause more liver damage. (Photo: Hero Images/Corbis)

How Common is It? - HCV affects 3 million Americans and kills 15,000 a year —more than HIV/AIDS. HCV is common among IV drug users and there has been a big push to get Baby Boomers — folks who were born after 1940 — to get tested for Hep C, given that the disease can live in the body for decades without folks knowing that they have it. (Photo: ERproductions Ltd/Blend Images/Corbis)

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How Common is It? - HCV affects 3 million Americans and kills 15,000 a year —more than HIV/AIDS. HCV is common among IV drug users and there has been a big push to get Baby Boomers — folks who were born after 1940 — to get tested for Hep C, given that the disease can live in the body for decades without folks knowing that they have it. (Photo: ERproductions Ltd/Blend Images/Corbis)

African-Americans and Hep C - Blacks are disproportionately affected by Hepatitis C. We are twice as likely to be infected than whites, account for 22 percent of all infections and are more likely to die from the disease. While Hep C treatment has been found to work poorly in Blacks as compared to Whites, there have been treatment advances over the years. (Photo: Jetta Productions/Blend Images/Corbis)

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African-Americans and Hep C - Blacks are disproportionately affected by Hepatitis C. We are twice as likely to be infected than whites, account for 22 percent of all infections and are more likely to die from the disease. While Hep C treatment has been found to work poorly in Blacks as compared to Whites, there have been treatment advances over the years. (Photo: Jetta Productions/Blend Images/Corbis)

Effective Treatment Is Not a Cure - There was a time in the 1980s when HIV/AIDS had many Americans living in constant fear, however, that has changed in 2020. While some of that can be credited to an incredibly effective awareness campaign, the epidemic did ruin many lives and stigmatize entire communities. Thankfully, we've made huge strides since then, and being HIV-positive is now a manageable and liveable condition. Still, it's a terminal condition with no cure.Prevention is still the best cure.

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Hep C and HIV/AIDS - Coinfection — having both Hep C and HIV/AIDS — is more common that one would think. Eighty percent of those with HIV who are injection drug users also have Hep C. According to the CDC, being coninfected more than triples the risk for liver disease, liver failure and liver-related death from Hep C.(Photo: China Photos/Getty Images)

Is There a Cure? - While there is no vaccine, there is a cure. Current treatment is so good that it has a cure rate of 95-100 percent for those who finish the 12-14 week treatment. But one pill can cost $1,000, with the full treatment costing around $100,000. Even with insurance, this treatment is not accessible for the average person with HCV. Though there are treatment assistance programs, many people have a hard time paying for the treatment. (Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

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Is There a Cure? - While there is no vaccine, there is a cure. Current treatment is so good that it has a cure rate of 95-100 percent for those who finish the 12-14 week treatment. But one pill can cost $1,000, with the full treatment costing around $100,000. Even with insurance, this treatment is not accessible for the average person with HCV. Though there are treatment assistance programs, many people have a hard time paying for the treatment. (Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

The Cure and African-Americans - Despite treatment for HCV being harder to access, it’s important to point out that the cure works just as good among African-Americans as it does in white people who take the drugs. This news is huge given that past HCV treatments didn’t have a great success rate among African-Americans and had very harsh side effects. (Photo: Jose Luis Pelaez, Inc./Corbis)

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The Cure and African-Americans - Despite treatment for HCV being harder to access, it’s important to point out that the cure works just as good among African-Americans as it does in white people who take the drugs. This news is huge given that past HCV treatments didn’t have a great success rate among African-Americans and had very harsh side effects. (Photo: Jose Luis Pelaez, Inc./Corbis)