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Hepatitis Health Center

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Who Is Affected by Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is the most common blood-borne infection in the United States. It affects about 3.2 million people in the U.S. and 170 million people worldwide.^1,²

It is not always clear how a person becomes infected with hepatitis C. But it is estimated that:¹

Recommended Related to Hepatitis

Understanding Hepatitis C -- Symptoms

Hepatitis C is a sneaky virus. About 80% of infected people don't have any symptoms of the virus, and their liver shows only a little damage. Many of these people are diagnosed with hepatitis C after showing abnormal liver enzymes on routine blood tests. Other people -- about 10% to 20% of those infected with the virus -- develop cirrhosis after having the infection for 20 or 30 years. This is when the normal functioning liver is replaced by scar tissue. A smaller number of people develop liver...

Read the Understanding Hepatitis C -- Symptoms article > >

At least 3 out of 4 people (75%) who get hepatitis C are those who have been repeatedly exposed to infected blood. These include injection drug users, people with hemophilia who were treated with blood clotting factors before 1987, and people who received blood transfusions before 1992.
Between 10% and 20% of people who have received hemodialysis for kidney problems are infected with hepatitis C.
Between 1% and 10% of people with chronic hepatitis C are infected because of high-risk sexual behavior.
About 1% of people, such as health care workers, become infected through accidental exposure to infected blood.

Citations
American Academy of Pediatrics (2009). Hepatitis C. In LK Pickering et al., eds., Red Book: 2009 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases, 28th ed., pp. 357-360. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.
O'Leary JG, Davis GL (2010). Hepatitis C. In M Feldman et al., eds., Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, 9th ed., vol. 2, pp. 1313-1335. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.

By	Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	W. Thomas London, MD - Hepatology
Last Revised	July 6, 2011

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: July 06, 2011

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.