hepatitis C

noun

: an acute or chronic hepatitis that is caused by a flavivirus (species Hepatitis C virus of the genus Hepacivirus), is often asymptomatic in its early stages but may be marked by fatigue, fever, nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal tenderness, and muscle and joint pain, and is usually transmitted by infected blood (such as by injection of an illicit drug, blood transfusion, or exposure to blood or blood products)

Note: The acute or short-term stage of hepatitis C typically progresses to a long-term or chronic infection which often leads to liver damage, liver failure, or liver cancer.

Examples of hepatitis C in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ribavirin, a broad-spectrum antiviral that works well against RNA viruses and is also used to treat hepatitis C, is the primary treatment. —Jen Christensen, CNN, 28 Oct. 2024

In 1998, Lesh underwent a liver transplant due to a chronic hepatitis C infection and became an outspoken advocate for organ donor programs. —Shawna Chen, Axios, 25 Oct. 2024

No cause was provided, although Lesh had a liver transplant in 1998 to combat hepatitis C and battled both prostate and bladder cancer over the years. —Spin Staff, SPIN, 25 Oct. 2024

Treatment for hepatitis B costs less than $30 per year; curing hepatitis C costs between $60 and $100. —Danjuma Adda, STAT, 16 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1978, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

hepatitis C

noun

-ˈsē 

: an acute or chronic hepatitis that is caused by a flavivirus (species Hepatitis C virus of the genus Hepacivirus), is often asymptomatic in its early stages but may be marked by fatigue, fever, nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal tenderness, and muscle and joint pain, and is usually transmitted by infected blood (as by injection of an illicit drug, blood transfusion, or exposure to blood or blood products)

Note: The acute or short-term stage of hepatitis C typically progresses to a long-term or chronic infection which often leads to liver damage, liver failure, or liver cancer.