Anyone who gets a tattoo or has his or her skin pierced with an infected needle. Although blood transfusion is a much less common cause of HCV infection than in earlier years, cases still occur. Also, sexual transmission is possible, and may take place with either heterosexual or homosexual behavior. Some, however, may have a minor illness with flu-like symptoms. These pigments collect in the skin, turning it yellow, and also may cause yellowing of the whites of the eyes.
Some patients lose their appetite and frequently feel tired.
Patients may also feel nauseous or even vomit. In most patients, HCV can still be found in the blood six months after the start of acute infection, and these patients are considered to be carriers. If the virus persists for one year, it is very unlikely to disappear. Many patients will not develop cirrhosis and instead have a mild, chronic form of infection called chronic persistent hepatitis. Patients with liver cancer have a average life expectancy measured in months unless the tumor is totally removed.