What happens to your body when you get hep-c ?

[iggnant1]

Ok. It damages your liver. then what?

[Chick M]

It damages your liver.

[Menthoids]

Hepatitis C affects people differently. Some are not affected by it while others can be affected seriously. Generally speaking, it is believed that around 75% (three quarters) of people with chronic hepatitis C will not go on to develop cirrhosis (scarring of liver cells).Over a 40 year period of infection, it is believed that less than 4% (one in 25) of people with chronic hepatitis C would develop liver failure or liver cancer. After 10-15 years, the majority of people with hepatitis C will have developed different levels of liver damage that will result in hepatitis C symptoms. These could include tiredness, nausea or abdominal discomfort (in some cases, symptoms can be disabling even though there may be only minimal liver damage).Over a 40 year period, chronic infection will result in cirrhosis of the liver for around 20% of people with chronic hepatitis C. Over this 40 year period, an additional 4% of people with chronic hepatitis C will have developed severe cirrhosis that has led to liver failure or liver cancer (liver failure may be treated by liver transplant although the new liver will be affected by residual HCV in the bloodstream).It is important to note that hepatitis C infection doesn't always make people feel ill. For those people who do become ill, symptoms take a long time to develop (approximately 10 to 15 years). Symptoms can stay at a certain level and don't always get worse. They can come and go with no real pattern.