Furthermore, about 10 percent of patients progress into a state of chronic smoldering infection in the liver. A person can be infected by a contaminated needle or through sexual contact. Homosexual men, intravenous drug users, or persons who have sexual contact with these people are at an especially high risk for contracting this disease. In the past, it was transmitted mostly by blood transfusion. There are now good blood tests to check for this virus before blood is given.
Most cases now occur in people who use contaminated needles for drug use.
It is difficult, but not impossible, to transmit this virus by unprotected sexual intercourse. Many people who acquire this infection go on to a chronic phase. Infectious mono virus, CMV virus, and several other viruses are also capable of infecting the liver. Binge drinking of alcohol can inflict an acute hepatitis injury on the liver. Certain drugs also can acutely injure the liver in a few people who are hypersensitive or allergic to a particular medicine.