What are the symptoms of hepatitis C?
The most common symptom of hepatitis C is fatigue; however, most infected people have no recognizable signs or symptoms for a long time. Some people do experience flu-like symptoms, such as loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, fever, weakness, tiredness and mild abdominal pain. Less common symptoms are dark urine and jaundice of the skin and eyes. The only way to know if you are infected is through blood tests.
Soon after contracting the infection many people have a flu-like illness with fatigue, fever, muscular aches and pain, nausea and vomiting. About 10% of patients become jaundiced (their skin turns yellow). Generally these symptoms resolve and the patient has no symptoms of liver disease for many years.
The symptoms of Hepatitis C are often silent. It is a blood-borne infection which causes inflammation of the liver. It is caused by the Hepatitis C virus, commonly known as HCV. Hepatitis C is sometimes known as the Silent Epidemic since many patients are asymptomatic for many years. It is a common myth that since no symptoms are experienced, then there is no harm taking place within the body. Unfortunately, over 80% of persons infected with the Hepatitis C virus will experience no symptoms for many years after they are infected. By the time they are noticeable, there may already be severe liver damage. What are the symptoms of Hepatitis C? Fatigue is a common symptom of Hepatitis C. Fatigue is a condition characterized by a decreased capacity for work accompanied by distraction and lack of efficiency. Persons with fatigue may experience unusual levels of weariness, sleepiness, and irritability. Symptoms of Hepatitis C may mimic common flu symptoms such as fever, chills, aching joints,
The symptoms of hepatitis C are similar to those of hepatitis B with two key differences. About 70% of those infected with HCV go on to a chronic carrier state. Only 10% of HBV infected persons develop chronic liver disease. The incubation period can be as long as 10-20 years in 80% of those infected with HCV. Symptoms occur in about 70% of patients infected with HBV and usually occur 9-21 weeks after exposure to an infected person.
Many people infected with hepatitis C have no symptoms. When symptoms are present, they can range from mild to severe. The most common early symptoms are mild fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Later symptoms may include dark coffee-colored rather than dark yellow urine, clay-colored stools, abdominal pain, and yellowing of the skin and/or whites of the eyes (jaundice). Who should be tested for hepatitis C? It is recommended that the following persons be routinely tested for hepatitis C: • Persons who have ever (even if only one time) injected illegal drugs • Persons who received blood products for treatment of bleeding problems prior to 1987 (those who received clotting factor concentrates produced before 1987) • Persons who were ever on chronic renal dialysis • Persons with persistently elevated liver function tests • Persons who were notified they received a blood transfusion from a donor who later tested positive for HCV • Perso
