Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is also a significant cause of severe liver damage and death.
In 2018, a total of 15,713 U.S. death certificates had hepatitis C recorded as an underlying or contributing cause of death.
About 2.4 million Americans are currently living with hepatitis C and roughly half are unaware of their infection. Of every 100 people infected with HCV, approximately 5–25 will develop cirrhosis within 10–20 years.
Chronic liver disease and liver cancer caused by chronic HCV infection are a common reason for liver transplants in the United States.
Symptoms of HCV infection include, but are not limited to:
- fever
- fatigue
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- vomiting
- abdominal pain
- dark urine
- grey-colored bowel movements
- joint pain
- jaundice (yellow color in the skin or eyes)
Click here to view the CDC fact sheet for Hepatitis C. (PDF)
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-5. Chronic HCV infection can lead to what disease?
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