Hepatitis C is a contagious liver disease caused by infection with the hepatitis C virus. Although hepatitis C is well known in Europe, America and Japan and is the leading cause of end-stage liver disease in these countries, it is significantly less well known than hepatitis A and B in China. Many people, including patients, are not sufficiently aware of hepatitis C and even have some misconceptions, which seriously affects patients’ medical behavior and even delays treatment as a result. The following are common misconceptions about hepatitis C. Myth 1: There must be clinical symptoms when suffering from hepatitis C In fact, the most important feature of hepatitis C is that it is not easy to be detected. The initial symptoms of infection are not obvious, just a feeling of poor appetite and fatigue. About 52% of chronic hepatitis C patients have no obvious symptoms, and about 1/3 of patients have normal liver function, but liver damage has already occurred. Because hepatitis C is insidious and can be latent in the body for a long time without any clinical symptoms, it is called the “silent killer”. Many patients have been infected with the hepatitis C virus for more than 10 years before being diagnosed. The current underdiagnosis rate of hepatitis C is more than 80%, and the danger is extensive. Myth 2: Hepatitis C can only be transmitted through blood transfusions China has now screened blood donors for hepatitis C antibodies, so the risk of contracting hepatitis C through transfusions of contaminated blood products has been significantly reduced. Transmission through broken skin and mucous membranes has now become the main route of blood infection. 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. In addition, hepatitis C virus can also be contracted through sexual contact and mother-to-child transmission. Myth 3: Normal liver function does not require antiviral treatment Generally speaking, patients with hepatitis B do not need antiviral treatment if their liver function is normal. However, unlike hepatitis B, hepatitis C has a high chronicity rate, with about 75%-80% of acute hepatitis C patients turning into chronic infections. According to the latest research in the international medical community, even if the transaminase level of hepatitis C patients is normal, they may still develop cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, etc. Therefore, regardless of whether the patient has symptoms or not, and regardless of whether the transaminase is normal or not, as long as the hepatitis C antibody and hepatitis C RNA are positive, antiviral treatment should be given as soon as possible and should not be delayed. And research shows that the antiviral efficacy of patients with normal liver function is the same as that of patients with abnormal liver function. Myth 4: Hepatitis C cannot be cured In fact, the treatment of hepatitis C is very effective, about 70% of patients can be cured through antiviral therapy, and the cure will not affect the quality of life of patients, but early detection and early treatment is a prerequisite. The liver function abnormalities should be routinely checked for hepatitis C antibodies, and once the diagnosis of hepatitis C is confirmed, treatment with pegylated interferon combined with ribavirin should be pursued. Myth 5: Hepatitis C can be prevented by vaccination Unfortunately, no vaccine has been developed for hepatitis C prevention. Prevention of hepatitis C can only be achieved by a combination of measures such as careful use of blood products, use of disposable syringes, strict sterilization of medical devices, staying away from drugs, and healthy sexual behavior.