At birth, a neonate infected with hepatitis C usually exhibits?

Neonates infected with hepatitis C often do not exhibit symptoms at birth. The majority are asymptomatic, meaning they can appear healthy and show no immediate signs of infection. This characteristic is particularly important as it can lead to a delayed diagnosis; many infants with hepatitis C will go undetected at birth.

While jaundice can occur in newborns due to various reasons, it is not a specific or definitive indicator of hepatitis C infection in neonates. Generalized edema and respiratory distress can be associated with other conditions or complications but are not commonly linked directly to hepatitis C infection at birth. Therefore, the lack of symptoms is significant when considering the overall presentation of neonates infected with hepatitis C, making the statement that they usually exhibit no symptoms accurate.