Hepatitis C is a contagious liver disease caused by infection with the hepatitis C virus. Compared to hepatitis B, hepatitis C is significantly less well known. A set of survey data shows that public awareness of hepatitis A and hepatitis B is 91% and 95%, respectively, while awareness of hepatitis C is only 38%. Many people do not know that tattoos and ear piercings, which are traumatic cosmetic procedures, can transmit hepatitis C. They do not know that hepatitis C is curable, and most respondents incorrectly believe that hepatitis C can be prevented by vaccination. There is no vaccine to prevent the spread of hepatitis C. Moreover, hepatitis C is insidious, with no symptoms at first, making it a veritable “silent killer”. The most important feature of hepatitis C is that it is not easily detected. The initial symptoms of infection are not obvious, except for poor appetite and fatigue. About 52% of patients with chronic hepatitis C have no obvious symptoms, and about 1/3 of patients have normal liver function on laboratory tests but have liver damage. The hepatitis C virus gradually and silently destroys the liver, and by the time a patient is diagnosed, it is likely to have developed into cirrhosis or even liver cancer, which is extremely lethal. Some studies have reported that after 20-30 years, about 10%-30% of chronic hepatitis C can develop into hepatic steatosis. About 3-7% of patients with hepatic steatosis develop liver cancer each year. In addition, because there is no vaccine for the hepatitis C virus, it is much more difficult to prevent and treat hepatitis C than hepatitis B. Hepatitis C is mainly transmitted through blood transmission China has now screened blood donors for antibodies to hepatitis C, so the risk of contracting hepatitis C through transfusion of contaminated blood products has been significantly reduced. Another route of transmission through blood is through broken skin and mucous membranes. The use of non-disposable syringes and needles, dental instruments that are not strictly sterilized, endoscopy, traumatic cosmetic procedures, and needle sticks are potential modes of transmission. If you have any of these high-risk transmission behaviors within six months, coupled with significant physical fatigue, be sure to go to a regular hospital hepatology department to test for hepatitis C antibodies and hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid for a definitive diagnosis. Since the chronicity rate of hepatitis C is very high, as long as the body is positive for hepatitis C antibodies and hepatitis C RNA, regardless of whether the patient has symptoms or not, and regardless of whether the transaminases are normal or not, antiviral treatment should be given as soon as possible and should not be delayed. At present, pegylated interferon combined with ribavirin has become the standard regimen for antiviral treatment of hepatitis C. It can effectively clear the hepatitis C virus, and about 70% of patients can be cured. Early detection, diagnosis and treatment are the keys to reducing the risk of the “silent killer” hepatitis C.