What is the typical course of Hepatitis C infection?

• A. It is transmitted primarily by fecal-oral route
• B. About 80% develop chronic infection with progressive liver disease
• C. It often clears spontaneously without liver damage
• D. It does not progress to fibrosis

Answer: (B)

Hepatitis C most often becomes a chronic infection. After the acute phase, about 75–85% of people fail to clear the virus and develop chronic infection. Over years or decades, chronic hepatitis C can cause ongoing liver inflammation that progresses to fibrosis and, in many patients, cirrhosis. This makes the statement that about 80% develop chronic infection with progressive liver disease the best description of the typical course. In contrast, the virus is transmitted mainly by blood (not fecal-oral), spontaneous clearance happens only in a minority, and chronic infection can indeed progress to fibrosis rather than being non-progressive.