Understanding Hepatitis C - Symptoms

What Are the Symptoms?

Hepatitis C is a sneaky virus. About 80% of infected people don't have any symptoms at all, and their liver shows only a little damage. Many of these people are diagnosed with hepatitis C after showing abnormal liver enzymes on routine blood tests. Other people -- about 10% to 20% of those infected with the virus -- develop cirrhosis after having the infection for 20 or 30 years. This is when the normal functioning liver is replaced by scar tissue. A smaller number of people develop liver cancer after infection.

Not everybody with hepatitis C has symptoms. Some symptoms of hepatitis C are similar to flu symptoms. They can include:

• Feeling tired.
• Feeling sick to your stomach.
• Poor appetite.
• Stomach pain.
• Diarrhea.
• Muscle and joint pain.
• Dark yellow urine.
• Yellowish eyes and skin.

Call Your Doctor If:

If you are having symptoms of hepatitis C or think you may have been exposed to the virus, go to your doctor and get tested.