What is hepatitis c

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne, infectious, viral disease that is caused by a hepatotropic virus called Hepatitis C virus (HCV). The infection can cause liver inflammation that is often asymptomatic, but ensuing chronic hepatitis can result later in cirrhosis and liver cancer.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Like HIV, HCV is caused by a retrovirus, and while the symptoms can be medically managed, there are no curative treatements. Although modification of diet and early medical intervention are helpful, people with HCV infection often experience few alarming symptoms, and subesquently do not seek treatment. An estimated 150-200 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C. In the U.S., those with a history of intravenous drug use, tattoos, or who have been exposed to blood via unsafe sex or social practices are high risk for this disease. Hepatitis C is the leading cause of liver transplant in the United States.

The hepatitis C virus is one of six known hepatitis viruses: A, B, C, D, E, G.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepatitis_C

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What is hepatitis c

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