Help Finding Online Information About Hepatitis C

Format: Fact Sheet
Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Hepatitis C is a disease that causes liver swelling and can lead to permanent liver damage and even death. The virus can be passed from person to person by sharing drug needles, getting a prick from a needle that has infected blood on it, or having sex with an infected person. Being born to a mother with hepatitis C can also cause infection. And if you received a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992, a possibility exists that hepatitis C was present, because there was no testing for the virus then.

The hepatitis C virus can make you feel like you have the flu. You can have stomach pain, diarrhea, feel tired, and be sick to your stomach. To help the public find more information about the hepatitis C virus and its health consequences, NIAID has updated its Hepatitis C Information Resources fact sheet.

Next Steps
You can download the Hepatitis C Information Resources fact sheet at www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/hepatitisc.htm.