In this study, we performed the rs16944 that is located in the promoter region at position -511 and showed that individuals with the C/C genotype were prevalent among the patients with HCV and have 58% chances higher of developing hepatitis (OR = 1.58 [95% CI 0.88–2.9]) compared to carriers homozygous for the T allele, suggesting polymorphisms present in the IL1B gene may be associated to the development of hepatitis caused by HCV. This evidence concerns the gene IL1B and hepatitis A virus infection.