Symptoms and Complications
When the hepatitis C virus first infects the body, it is referred to as the acute phase. In the acute phase, some people experience symptoms such as tiredness and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). Other symptoms such as headache, fever, and abdominal pain may also occur. However, many people experience no symptoms during this acute phase of infection.
About 80% of people infected with hepatitis C will develop a chronic infection. Since it progresses slowly, symptoms of chronic hepatitis can take up to 20 or 30 years to appear. Symptoms of chronic hepatitis C can include fatigue, jaundice, abdominal pain, and joint pain.
Long-term complications of HCV infection include liver cirrhosis (liver scarring) and liver cancer. Although it may take many years to develop, 10% to 20% of people who have hepatitis C will develop liver cirrhosis, and of these people, 1% to 5% will develop liver cancer.