What is a significant feature of Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is characterized by a high rate of chronic infection, which is a significant feature of the disease. After initial exposure to the Hepatitis C virus (HCV), many individuals may remain asymptomatic while the virus replicates in their bloodstream. Approximately 75-85% of those infected with HCV develop chronic hepatitis, which can lead to long-term health complications such as liver cirrhosis and liver cancer if left untreated.

This high chronicity is a critical aspect of Hepatitis C, as it highlights the importance of diagnosis and management to prevent complications and spread of the virus. While there are effective treatments available today that can cure many cases of Hepatitis C, the initially high number of chronic cases continues to pose a public health challenge. Other features associated with Hepatitis C, such as the lack of a vaccine, the modes of transmission being primarily bloodborne rather than fecal-oral, and the fluctuating new case rates, further underline the unique and persistent problems posed by this virus in the healthcare landscape.