Long-term infection with the hepatitis C virus is known as chronic hepatitis C. Chronic hepatitis C is usually a "silent" infection for many years, until the virus damages the liver enough to cause the signs and symptoms of liver disease. Signs and symptoms include:  Bleeding easily Bruising easily Fatigue Poor appetite Yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes (jaundice) Dark-colored urine Itchy skin Fluid buildup in your abdomen (ascites) Swelling in your legs Weight loss Confusion, drowsiness and slurred speech (hepatic encephalopathy) Spiderlike blood vessels on your skin (spider angiomas)  Every chronic hepatitis C infection starts with an acute phase. Acute hepatitis C usually goes undiagnosed because it rarely causes symptoms. When signs and symptoms are present, they may include jaundice, along with fatigue, nausea, fever and muscle aches. Acute symptoms appear one to three months after exposure to the virus and last two weeks to three months. Acute hepatitis C infection doesn't always become chronic. Some people clear HCV from their bodies after the acute phase, an outcome known as spontaneous viral clearance. In studies of people diagnosed with acute HCV, rates of spontaneous viral clearance have varied from 15% to 25%. Acute hepatitis C also responds well to antiviral therapy.
long-term infection hepatitis virus known chronic hepatitis c  chronic hepatitis "silent" infection years  virus damages liver cause signs symptoms liver disease  signs symptoms include:  bleeding easily bruising easily fatigue poor appetite yellow discoloration skin eyes (jaundice) dark-colored urine itchy skin fluid buildup abdomen (ascites) swelling legs weight loss confusion  drowsiness slurred speech (hepatic encephalopathy) spiderlike blood vessels skin (spider angiomas)  chronic hepatitis infection starts acute phase  acute hepatitis goes undiagnosed rarely causes symptoms  signs symptoms present  may include jaundice  fatigue  nausea  fever muscle aches  acute symptoms months exposure virus last weeks months  acute hepatitis infection doesn't chronic  people clear hcv bodies acute phase  outcome known spontaneous viral clearance  studies people diagnosed acute hcv  rates spontaneous viral clearance varied 15% 25%  acute hepatitis responds well antiviral therapy
hepatitis c