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Understanding Hepatitis C -- Symptoms
What Are the Symptoms of Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a sneaky virus. About 80% of infected people don't have any symptoms of the virus, 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.
Some symptoms of acute hepatitis C are similar to flu symptoms:
- Feeling tired
- Feeling sick to your stomach
- Poor appetite
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhea
- Muscle and joint pain
- Dark yellow urine
- Yellowish eyes and skin
In later stages, patients may develop symptoms of cirrhosis such as fluid retention, easy bleeding and bruising, and jaundice.
Call Your Doctor About Hepatitis C 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.
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