Hepatitis-C and HIV (AIDS) are completely different diseases.

Hepatitis-C is liver infection disease caused by virus. Infection stipulated by Hepatitis-C virus can develop to any person and young people are more often observed to have it. Virus of C-Hepatitis is transmitted through blood. Majority of cases of C-Hepatitis is developed unnoticeably and transforms into chronic form with long-term course without symptoms.
Chronic Hepatitis-C can be cured by new medicines.

For getting C-Hepatitis infection it is necessary that the material containing virus (blood of the infected person), get into blood vessel of another person. So viruses are transmitted with blood into liver where they get inside liver cells and then begin to multiply there.
Getting Hepatitis-C infection happens more often while bringing in of sufficient amount of the infected blood during injections by common needle.
Getting infection in the process of piercing and tattoo making by the instruments soiled by the blood of a sick person or infection carrier is possible as well as in the case of common shaving blades and manicure items and even tooth brushes usage (infected blood may become the reason of getting infection), as the result of a bite.
Sexual way of Hepatitis-C infection transmission is hardly important. Nevertheless, the risk of infection increases with large quantity of partners and by-chance liaisons. A partner may communicate some other infections as well, that is why one should use condoms every time.


In general Hepatitis-C is a disease without symptoms which is more often diagnosed accidentally, when people undergo check-up on the occasion of the other diseases.
Asthenia, weakness, fatigability are noticed more often than the other symptoms. But these symptoms are very unspecific (only their presence does not allow diagnosing Hepatitis-C).
Jaundice, ascetic symptoms (increasing of a belly), vascular spots, weakness may appear during liver cirrhosis.
Lack of appetite, weakness, sickness, sometimes aching joints are related to the symptoms of acute Hepatitis-C. Jaundice may develop. Increasing of liver and spleen is possible.


The first test which is usually recommended to undergo for Hepatitis-C revealing is the test for antibodies to Hepatitis-C virus (anti-HCV). It is done in the majority of medical institutions. The analysis ascertains only the fact of getting infection in the present or in the past.
More complicated check-up is conducted for precise diagnostics of Hepatitis-C. For complete diagnostics of Hepatitis-C it is necessary to conduct series of blood tests, first of all biochemical blood analysis, reacting to HCV-RNA (qualitative, quantitative, genotyping), general blood analysis, coagulogramme (coagulability).
One should undergo ultrasonic research of the abdominal cavity organs, puncture liver biopsy may be prescribed. Having got all the results a doctor will be able to give complete diagnosis, define the level of virus process in the organism, evaluate liver condition and the extent of it damage, to find effective and safe treatment.


Getting infection as a rule brings development of chronic Hepatitis-C. In the majority of cases course of the chronic Hepatitis–C is benign: in the form of carrying without symptoms or feebly marked hepatitis. However in this case as well, a person needs supervision of a doctor, because the risk of disease activation and development of dangerous outcomes is preserved all the time. Chronic Hepatitis-C may proceed with considerable changes of liver tests and risk of development liver cirrhosis is high.
Chronic Hepatitis-C may proceed for decades. Risk of transformation into cirrhosis within 20 years reaches up to 20% of patients with active course of hepatitis. Development of initial liver cancer is possible for 5% of patients with cirrhosis. There is a risk of dying of HCV-associated cirrhosis. Frequently these are the sick people with Hepatitis-C taking alcohol.

• Never use drugs. Never share needles, syringes, solutions and any similar items and do not use somebody else’s.
• Never share with anyone and do not use somebody else’s shaving-sets and things, tooth brushes and any subjects where blood can be found.
• Visiting medical institution or dentist cabinet it is necessary to watch that all potentially dangerous manipulations are made only by disposable instruments.
• Think well before going and making tattoo or piercing and watch where to what specialist do you go. The master must wash hands and work in disposable gloves. You may be infected by needle where infected blood is contained.