Acute or chronic hep C?
People can live with hepatitis C for a long time without knowing they have the virus because its symptoms can initially be vague, even for as long as the first 15 to 20 years. It is important to say that many people do live well with hepatitis C but others do not and go on to develop serious liver disease and even liver cancer.
It very much depends on the person - your knowledge, lifestyle and a little luck in terms of when symptoms appear and how it affects you life. An important factor is whether you have the virus in your body short term or long term. This is commonly referred to as having an 'Acute Infection' or a 'Chronic Infection' with hepatitis C.
Acute infection - short term
You are referred to as having an 'acute infection' if you have hepatitis C for only a short period of time and clear the virus by yourself relatively quickly. This dramatically reduces any risk of temporary/permanent liver damage or serious illness to yourself. In fact most people who have an acute infection never know they had the virus.
There is no official timescale or definition for ‘acute infection’ with hepatitis C. As a guide, people tend to be infected for just 6 to 9 months before clearing the virus.
Chronic infection - long term
Around 4 out of 5 people who become infected with hepatitis C cannot get rid of the virus by themselves. Without treatment they will carry the virus in their body long term. This is referred to as ‘chronic infection’ and poses more risk of liver damage and disease because the virus remains in the body where it can act on the liver for a longer period of time.