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

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says these programs reduce HIV and hepatitis C infections, and that new users of the programs are more likely to enter drug treatment and more likely to stop using drugs. —Sarah Boden, NPR, 27 Mar. 2024

Within a few years, the number of new HIV infections plummeted by 96% and new cases of hepatitis C fell by 76%. —Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024

Roberts died from alcoholic liver disease and hepatitis C, complicated by internal bleeding, according to medical examiner’s records. —David K. Li, NBC News, 9 Jan. 2024

Recent medical advances in treating infections such as hepatitis C and HIV have made previously unusable organs usable. —Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 17 Oct. 2023

There are more than 1,000 cases of hepatitis C in Gaza and the numbers are increasing. —NBC News, 14 Jan. 2024

No-cost children’s dental screening and HIV and hepatitis C tests will also be available. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2024

Liver disease is commonly caused by obesity, hepatitis C and alcoholism. —Ben Tanen, Washington Post, 8 Feb. 2024

The Biden administration has been pushing for billions of dollars to wipe out hepatitis C, arguing that the investment would pay off in the long run as Medicaid recipients avoid liver ailments that require costly care. —Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 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.