The clinical features of acute and chronic hepatitis C are not specific for this form of hepatitis. Many patients with either acute or chronic hepatitis C are asymptomatic. Acute hepatitis C may sometimes result in jaundice, nausea, vomiting and general malaise.
Fulminant hepatic failure is an extremely rare compli-cation of acute HCV infection. The symptoms of chronic hepatitis C are non-specific and include fatigue and right upper quadrant pain. Pruritus may sometimes be a presenting symptom for hepatitis C, probably related to cholestatic liver injury.
Patients may sometimes present with features of extrahepatic manifestations of chronic hepatitis C such as porphyria cutanea tarda or cryogobulinemia (see below) or advanced liver disease with cirrhosis and liver failure. Asymptomatic patients with chronic hepatitis C may be detected at the time of routine health evaluations, insurance physicals or at the time of blood donation.
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