How does AndHealth treat Hepatitis C?

 

Medically reviewed by: Dr. Rachel DeMita, MD, AndHealth infectious disease specialist

Hepatitis C is a viral infection that primarily affects the liver. Left untreated, it can lead to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, or liver cancer. Modern treatments can cure most people with Hepatitis C, making early detection and care critical.

AndHealth treats people living with Hepatitis C in Ohio with a whole person, comprehensive approach. You will work with a coordinated infectious disease care team that includes a board-certified specialist with decades of experience.

Common Hepatitis C symptoms

Many people with Hepatitis C do not experience symptoms for years. When symptoms do appear, they can vary.

Because Hepatitis C often has no early symptoms, routine screening is important, especially for people at higher risk.

  • Fatigue or weakness

  • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
  • Dark urine or pale stools
  • Abdominal pain or discomfort
  • Nausea and loss of appetite
  • Swelling in the legs or abdomen (in advanced cases)

Causes and risk factors

Hepatitis C is transmitted through blood-to-blood contact. There a number of common ways for it to spread.

Risk factors include injection drug use, long-term hemodialysis, unregulated tattoos or piercings, and certain medical procedures in countries without strict blood screening.

  • Sharing needles or syringes

  • Receiving a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992 (before routine screening)

  • Healthcare-related exposures (rare in the U.S. today)
  • Being born to a mother with Hepatitis C

Living with Hepatitis C

Even after treatment, maintaining liver health is important. With early detection and proper treatment, people with Hepatitis C can live long, healthy lives.

Your AndHealth care team will work with you create a manageable care plan—helping you live the life you want.

Tips for managing Hepatitis C include:

  • Completing the full course of prescribed medication
  • Attending follow-up appointments to monitor liver function
  • Avoiding alcohol or substances that can harm the liver
  • Maintaining healthy nutrition and lifestyle

Treatment options

Hepatitis C is curable with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) medications. DAA therapy is usually taken for 8–12 weeks and has a high success rate, often eliminating the virus entirely from the body. Monitoring and follow-up care ensure long-term liver health. 

We’ll support your journey with ongoing care, medication adherence, and lifestyle support to help you manage Hepatitis C effectively.

Treatment plans are personalized based on:

  • Viral genotype

  • Liver health
  • Any other underlying health conditions

Our care team provides personalized Hepatitis C treatment and support, helping patients achieve a cure and maintain long-term liver health.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Modern antiviral medications can cure most cases of Hepatitis C, eliminating the virus from the body. Early diagnosis improves the chance of a complete cure.

Hepatitis C spreads primarily through blood-to-blood contact, such as sharing needles, receiving unscreened blood products, or exposure during certain medical procedures. It is not spread through casual contact.

Symptoms may include fatigue, jaundice, abdominal pain, dark urine, or nausea. Many people have no symptoms in the early stages.

Diagnosis involves blood tests to detect antibodies or the virus itself. Liver function tests help assess liver damage and guide treatment.

Yes. With treatment, most people can be cured. Maintaining liver health and attending follow-up care are important for long-term wellness.

Prevention includes avoiding sharing needles, ensuring blood products are screened, practicing safe procedures for tattoos and piercings, and taking precautions in healthcare settings.