Skip to content
My WebMD Sign In, Sign Up

Hepatitis Health Center

Font Size

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:

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.

WebMD Medical Reference

Reviewed by Melissa Palmer, MD on April 30, 2012

Today in Hepatitis

Hepatitis Overview
Slideshow
young couple
Article
 
Hepatitis Basics
Article
Hepatitis Prevent 10
Article
 
Hepatitis C Treatment
Article
Syringes and graph illustration
Tool
 
Making Home Safe
Article
passport, pills and vaccine
Slideshow
 
Scientist looking in microscope
Slideshow
Fatty Liver Disease
Article
 
Digestive Diseases Liver Transplantation
Article
Picture Of The Liver
Image Collection