Hepatitis C
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Hepatitis C can also be called Hep C or HCV.
Contact the Viral Hepatitis service at NHS Highland.

About hepatitis C
Hepatitis C causes inflammation of the liver. When your liver becomes inflamed, it can become damaged and eventually have difficulty carrying out its various and vital functions. If left untreated, hepatitis C can lead to serious liver damage, such as cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer which can result in premature death.
However, hepatitis C can be cured with treatment. The treatment is very straightforward and consists of a short course of tablets. The current treatments are safe and very effective and the majority of people do not feel any side-effects. This is different to the old treatments which took longer to work and had more side effects.
NHS Highland is committed towards the ambition of eliminating HCV in Scotland.
Important: Hepatitis C guidance at NHS inform
Hepatitis C is a liver infection that’s spread through blood. It can be cured with treatment. But if left untreated, it can sometimes cause serious and potentially life-threatening damage to the liver over many years.
See more information on hepatitis C at NHS inform:
- symptoms
- when to get medical advice
- treatments
- how hepatitis C is spread
- how to prevent hepatitis C
- complications
Further information
- The Hepatitis C Trust - a charity working across the UK to find, test and support people into treatment for hepatitis C.
- British Liver Trust - the UK's leading liver health charity working to improve liver health for all, and supporting those affected by liver disease or cancer
- Sexual health and blood borne virus action plan: Hepatitis C (HCV) Elimination - Sexual health and blood borne virus action plan 2023 to 2026 - at gov.scot
Blood borne viruses
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Blood borne viruses
Hepatitis C (HCV), Hepatitis B (HBV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are viruses carried in the blood - blood ...
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Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a virus that affects the liver and can lead to acute (short term) or chronic (long term) infection.
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Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C can also be called Hep C or HCV.