Chronic Hepatitis C

Chronic Hepatitis C is a long-term viral infection that affects your liver. It happens when your body cannot clear the Hepatitis C virus within six months of infection. The virus continues to multiply in your liver cells and can cause ongoing damage over years or decades.

Your liver is responsible for filtering toxins, making proteins, and storing energy. When Hepatitis C becomes chronic, it causes inflammation that interferes with these vital functions. Many people live with chronic Hepatitis C for years without knowing it. The virus works silently in the background while your liver tries to repair itself.

Over time, this cycle of damage and repair can lead to scarring called fibrosis. If left untreated, chronic Hepatitis C may progress to cirrhosis, which is severe scarring that prevents your liver from working properly. The good news is that modern antiviral medications can cure chronic Hepatitis C in most people. Early detection through blood testing gives you the best chance for a healthy outcome.

• Fatigue that does not improve with rest
• Pain or discomfort in the upper right side of your abdomen
• Nausea or loss of appetite
• Muscle and joint pain
• Dark urine or pale stools
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes, called jaundice
• Itchy skin without a visible rash
• Confusion or difficulty concentrating, also called brain fog
• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Swelling in your legs or abdomen

Many people with chronic Hepatitis C have no symptoms for years or even decades. The virus can damage your liver quietly without any warning signs. This is why regular blood testing is important if you have risk factors. By the time symptoms appear, significant liver damage may have already occurred.

Chronic Hepatitis C develops when the Hepatitis C virus stays in your body for more than six months. You get the virus through contact with infected blood. The most common way people get Hepatitis C is by sharing needles or other drug injection equipment. Healthcare workers can get it from accidental needle sticks. Getting a tattoo or piercing with unsterilized equipment also poses a risk. Blood transfusions and organ transplants before 1992 are another risk factor because testing was not available then.

Less commonly, Hepatitis C can spread through sharing personal items like razors or toothbrushes that have traces of blood. It can also pass from mother to baby during childbirth. Sexual transmission is possible but rare, especially among people with multiple partners or HIV. People born between 1945 and 1965 have higher rates of chronic Hepatitis C. Your immune system may successfully clear the virus in some cases, but about 75 to 85 percent of people develop chronic infection. Having HIV, being on long-term dialysis, and heavy alcohol use increase your risk of chronic infection and liver damage.

Chronic Hepatitis C is diagnosed through a series of blood tests. The first test checks for Hepatitis C antibodies, which show whether you have ever been exposed to the virus. If antibodies are present, your doctor will order an HCV RNA test to see if the virus is still active in your body. This test detects the genetic material of the virus and measures the viral load. If HCV RNA is detected for more than six months, it confirms chronic infection.

Additional blood tests help assess liver health and damage. AST and GGT are liver enzymes that rise when your liver is inflamed or damaged. Elevated levels suggest ongoing liver injury from the virus. Rite Aid offers testing for Hepatitis C antibodies, HCV RNA, AST, and GGT as part of our flagship panel. These tests give you and your doctor important information about infection status and liver function. Your doctor may also recommend imaging tests or a liver biopsy to check for scarring.

• Direct-acting antiviral medications that cure chronic Hepatitis C in 8 to 12 weeks for most people
• Avoiding alcohol completely to prevent further liver damage
• Maintaining a healthy weight through balanced nutrition and regular physical activity
• Eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins to support liver health
• Avoiding medications and supplements that can harm your liver, including acetaminophen in high doses
• Getting vaccinated against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B to prevent additional liver infections
• Regular monitoring with blood tests and imaging to track liver health and treatment response
• Working with a hepatologist, a doctor who specializes in liver disease, for advanced cases
• Considering liver transplant evaluation if cirrhosis has caused severe liver failure