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Signs & Symptoms of Chronic Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a virus that attacks the liver and can lead to severe liver disease. To diagnose the condition, your doctor would use a blood sample or a liver biopsy to see how far the condition has advanced. According to the Mayo Clinic, if you have minor hepatitis C symptoms, your doctor may decide you need no treatment at all. If treatment is needed, it is normally a regiment of medication.

  1. Flu-Like Symptoms

    • Many of the initial symptoms of hepatitis C appear to be symptoms of the flu. The person may experience bouts with fatigue, nausea, and an achy pain in the joints. They may lose their appetite, and they may also start to feel aches and pains in their muscles. One of the symptoms that occurs early in the condition that is not part of this flu-like family of symptoms is a tenderness around the liver. The area around the liver will seem tender to the touch, and in some cases, touching the tender area may cause some discomfort.

    Jaundice

    • Since hepatitis C attacks primarily the liver, there may be symptoms associated with liver conditions that may appear. One of these sets of symptoms is jaundice. The person may begin to experience a yellow-ish color to their skin either in general or in random areas on the body. The person may also begin to notice the whites of their eyes turning yellow, and these symptoms are normally accompanied by a fever.

    Digestive Symptoms

    • As hepatitis C advances, the person may begin to experience digestive symptoms. They may notice that their urine is getting darker. They may also notice light colored areas in their stool. They may begin to have bouts of indigestion, and they may also experience an increase in gas and flatulence. They may also notice that they are retaining water and are experiencing a weight gain due to water retention. Their stomach may also be protruding out slightly.

    Vision

    • The person may begin to experience severe headaches or even hot flashes, and they may have vision problems to go along with these headaches. They may experience blurred or double vision, or they may notice that their eyes are uncomfortably dry.

    Coordination

    • Someone suffering from hepatitis C may also begin to experience problems with their memory and coordination. They may experience rapid mood swings, loss of memory and an inability to remember how to do simple daily tasks. They may also begin to experience vertigo which can prevent them from being able to stand or walk without falling down. They may also display signs of being anxious for no reason, and they may also become easily irritated.

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