My WebMD Sign In

Please enter email address

Enter your password

Keep me signed in on this computer

Show more Information

If you select "Keep me signed in on this computer", every time you visit WebMD.com you won't have to type your email address and password. This means that a cookie will stay on your computer even when you exit or close your browser which may reduce your levels of privacy and security. You should never select this option if you're using a publicly accessible computer, or if you're sharing a computer with others. Even if you select this option there are some features of our site that still require you to log in for privacy reasons.

Forget your password? Having trouble signing in?

Why should I
sign up for WebMD?

With a WebMD Account you can:

Track your way to weight loss success
Manage your family's vaccinations
Join the conversation

See more benefits Sign Up

Why WebMD?

My WebMD

Show Menu

Facebook Twitter Pinterest

WebMD Home

Hepatitis Health Center

Hepatitis C Guide

Email a Friend

Print Article

Hepatitis Health Center

Tools & Resources

Overview & Facts

Symptoms & Types

Diagnosis & Tests

Treatment & Care

Living & Managing

Support & Resources

Select a topic to explore more.

What Is Hepatitis C?

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Treatment

Living & Coping

Finding Help

Resources

Font Size

Symptoms

Most people who are infected with hepatitis C-even people who have been infected for a while-usually don't have symptoms.

If symptoms do develop, they may include:

Recommended Related to Hepatitis

Hepatitis C, Diet, and Exercise

Contrary to the claims of many books and web sites, there's no such thing as a proven hepatitis C diet or exercise regimen. But while you have to be wary of any programs promising cures, you should eat right and get exercise. "There's no hard data about exercise or eating right with hepatitis C, but I always tell people to do it," says David Thomas, MD, professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore. "Exercise can make them feel better, especially with depression caused by...

Read the Hepatitis C, Diet, and Exercise article > >

Fatigue.
Joint pain.
Belly pain.
Itchy skin.
Sore muscles.
Dark urine.
Jaundice, a condition in which the skin and the whites of the eyes look yellow.

A hepatitis C infection can cause damage to your liver (cirrhosis). If you develop cirrhosis, you may have:

Redness on the palms of your hands caused by expanded small blood vessels.
Clusters of blood vessels just below the skin that look like tiny red spiders and usually appear on your chest, shoulders, and face.
Swelling of your belly, legs, and feet.
Shrinking of the muscles.
Bleeding from enlarged veins in your digestive tract, which is called variceal bleeding.
Damage to your brain and nervous system, which is called encephalopathy. This damage can cause symptoms such as confusion and memory and concentration problems.

Many other health problems are linked with long-term cirrhosis. For more information, see the topic Cirrhosis. There also are many other conditions with similar symptoms.

Contagious and incubation periods

The incubation period-the time it takes for symptoms to appear after the hepatitis C virus has entered your body-is from 2 weeks to 6 months.

But you can spread the virus to someone else at any time after you are infected, even if you don't have symptoms.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: July 06, 2011

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.