In America today, there are an estimated 3.9 million Americans who have been infected with the Hepatitis C virus. Each year 36,000 new infections occur within the United States alone. If you, or someone you know, has had a blood transfusion before July 1992, the information you are about to read may be critical. Hepatitis C is a viral infection which causes inflammation of the liver.
Infections can be acute or chronic.
Acute infections are short term, whereas chronic infections can be persistent over time and the virus itself never leaves the body. The majority of people that are infected with Hepatitis C have infections which become chronic. These chronic infections can cause cirrhosis or severe scarring of the liver. This process takes place over many years and produces no symptoms. Even the symptoms of acute Hepatitis are so mild they may not be noticeable.