Hepatitis C is an inflammation of the liver. While different things can cause other types of hepatitis, a specific virus -- the
hepatitis C virus -- causes hepatitis C. This virus is also known as HCV.
Acute Versus Chronic Hepatitis C
There are two types of hepatitis C: acute and chronic. In acute hepatitis C, the body is able to completely kill the hepatitis C virus. This happens in about 15 percent of people infected with the hepatitis C virus. In about 85 percent of people infected with HCV, the body is not able to completely get rid of the virus and they end up having a long-term liver infection. This is called
chronic hepatitis C.
Just as there are different types of hepatitis viruses, there are also a few different types of the hepatitis C virus itself.
These are known as
hepatitis C genotypes. The main hepatitis C genotypes are known simply as: genotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. The genotype is important to know because some genotypes are harder to treat than others.
Of the different hepatitis C genotypes, genotype 1 is the type most commonly found in the United States. Between 70 and 90 percent of Americans with hepatitis C have this genotype. Hepatitis C genotypes 2 and 3 are less common. Only 10 to 20 percent of infected people in this country have either of these genotypes.
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