What it is
Hepatitis C is a viral infection that affects the liver. Some people have no noticeable symptoms for years, so many learn about it through a routine blood test, a blood donation screening, or a check-up.
Unlike hepatitis A, which is usually short-term, hepatitis C can become a long-lasting (chronic) infection. Over many years, chronic infection may affect the liver, which is why clinicians usually want to know about it early.
Hepatitis C care is the set of conversations, tests and follow-up that surround the virus. It generally includes screening, confirming whether the virus is present, looking at liver health, discussing antiviral treatment, and checking in afterward. Hepatologists (liver specialists) and infectious disease doctors are the two kinds of specialists who most often provide this care.
How it’s traditionally been approached
Hepatitis C has traditionally been found through blood tests. A first screening test looks for signs that someone has been exposed, and a follow-up test can show whether the virus is currently in the body. Clinicians decide which tests make sense for each person.
Screening has often been discussed for people in higher-risk groups. These include people born in certain birth cohorts, people who received a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992, people who have injected drugs, and people born in regions where hepatitis C is more common. These are factual risk categories, and many people with hepatitis C have none of them.
Treatment has changed a great deal over time. Today, antiviral medications taken by mouth are commonly used, and hepatitis C can often be cleared from the body. Which medicine is appropriate, and for how long, is something only a licensed clinician decides after an evaluation. These medications are FDA-regulated prescription products.
How the right doctor may help
A hepatology or infectious disease doctor may help you make sense of a positive hepatitis C test. A visit generally includes a conversation about your health history, possible past exposures, current medications and alcohol use, and any symptoms. Many people find it a relief to have the results explained in plain language, without judgment.
Your doctor may order additional blood tests or imaging to learn more about your liver, and may talk with you about whether hepatitis treatment makes sense for you. They may also discuss vaccination for other types of hepatitis, such as A and B, and screening for other infections. Whether any of these is appropriate is a decision for you and your clinician.
Questions you might bring: What do my results mean? Do I need more testing? Which antiviral options might fit my situation, and what are the regulatory status and possible side effects? What follow-up happens after treatment? How can I protect my liver and others around me? You can look for licensed doctors through Providers.plus.
The whole-person view
Body, mind and stress affect each other. Learning you have a long-term infection can bring worry, guilt or uncertainty, and stress can in turn affect sleep, appetite and energy. Looking after the whole person, along with the liver, is a reasonable part of any care journey.
Some people find body-based support helpful, such as the approaches offered by Somatic Experiences. Others value talking through fears and stigma with a counselor, such as those at Therapists.plus. These sit alongside medical care and don't replace it, and no one approach is right for everyone.
Keep in mind
- Only a licensed clinician can diagnose hepatitis C, decide whether treatment is appropriate, and guide your care. Nothing on this page replaces that evaluation.
- Treatment and monitoring decisions depend on your own health, so avoid comparing your situation with anyone else's.
- Get emergency care right away by calling 911 for confusion, severe abdominal pain, vomiting blood, or significant yellowing of the skin or eyes with fever. This site is not for emergencies.
- If you are in emotional crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) at any time.
Doctors
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Frequently asked questions
What is hepatitis C care?
Hepatitis C care is the screening, testing, treatment evaluation and follow-up a licensed clinician provides for people who have or may have hepatitis C. It often involves a hepatologist or infectious disease doctor. The details depend on each person's health and results.
I tested positive for hepatitis C. What happens next?
A positive screening test usually leads to a follow-up blood test to see whether the virus is currently present. A clinician can then talk with you about your liver health and whether hepatitis treatment is appropriate. A positive result is a reason to start that conversation. It is not an emergency by itself.
Can hepatitis C be cured?
Hepatitis C can often be treated and cleared with modern antiviral medication. Whether this is right for you, and which medicine to use, is a decision for a licensed clinician after an evaluation. Ask a provider what to expect in your case.
Who should be screened for hepatitis C?
Screening is commonly discussed for certain birth cohorts, people who received transfusions or transplants before 1992, people who have injected drugs, and people born in regions where hepatitis C is more common. Anyone can ask a clinician whether screening makes sense for them.
What kind of doctor provides hepatitis treatment for hepatitis C?
Hepatologists (liver specialists) and infectious disease doctors most often provide hepatitis treatment for hepatitis C, and some primary care clinicians do as well. You can start by asking your current doctor for a referral or by browsing licensed providers on Providers.plus.
Is monitoring needed after hepatitis C treatment?
Clinicians often arrange follow-up after treatment to check how it went and to look at liver health. What that follow-up involves depends on your situation, so ask your provider what they recommend for you.
Educational resource. Hep Programs shares general information and connects people with independent doctors. It is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Talk with a licensed professional about your health.