Most people who become infected with hepatitis C are unaware of it at the time, as symptoms take years or even decades to appear. This makes the infection very difficult to recognise.

Immediately after infection

Some people may feel briefly unwell when they become infected and in rare cases they may become jaundiced. About 3 in 4 people who become infected will develop chronic infection.

Chronic infection

Chronic hepatitis C infection can affect people in a variety of ways:

• Some people remain well throughout their life and will not develop liver damage
• Some people only develop mild to moderate liver damage, with or without symptoms – symptoms can include fatigue, muscle aches, nausea, alcohol intolerance and pain around the liver
• About 1 in 5 people will go on to develop cirrhosis of the liver
• In some people, severe liver damage can lead to primary liver cancer or liver failure, and the need for a liver transplant