Symptoms of HCV Hepatitis C virus

Many people report few or no symptoms during the acute phase of HCV Hepatitis C virus infection.

The symptoms of hepatitis C are difficult to recognize, for they are progressive in nature and often very mild, at least in the early stages of infection. For more than six months following initial infection, Hepatitis C virus is virtually undetectable.

People may experience mild flu-like symptoms including nausea, fatigue, fever, headaches, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and muscle or joint pain.

Many cases go undiagnosed because the symptoms are suggestive of a flu-like illness which just comes and goes, or these symptoms are so mild that the patient is unaware of anything unusual.

Over time (often years or even decades) people with chronic HCV Hepatitis C virus may develop various symptoms related to liver damage. Chronic HCV Hepatitis C virus is also associated with a wide variety of related conditions.

Symptoms Reported by People with HCV Hepatitis C virus

Acute Hepatitis C

Flu-like illness, abdominal bloating, nausea, fatigue (mild to severe), abdominal pain, vomiting,
loss of appetite (anorexia), fever, night sweats, diarrhoea, jaundice, indigestion, muscle or joint pain, headaches.

Chronic Hepatitis C

Fatigue (mild to severe), "brain fog", mood swings, loss of appetite (anorexia), nausea, indigestion, muscle or joint pain, abdominal pain, fever, headaches, depression.

Late-Stage Hepatitis C with Cirrhosis

Fatigue (mild to severe), fever, nausea, loss of appetite (anorexia), vomiting, frequent urination,
jaundice, indigestion, headaches, muscle or joint pain, abdominal pain, abdominal bloating,
depression, mood swings, cognitive dysfunction, lack of concentration, mental confusion, dizziness, peripheral vision problems.

Conditions Linked to HCV Hepatitis C virus

A number of different conditions have been associated with HCV Hepatitis C virus .

Some of these are autoimmune conditions, in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues.

Conditions sometimes seen in people with chronic HCV include Sjögren’s syndrome (characterized by dry eyes and dry mouth),

kidney conditions such as glomerulonephritis, and skin conditions such as lichen planus (characterized by white lesions or bumps) and porphyria cutanea tarda (characterized by a sun-sensitive rash). Other related conditions include certain types of arthritis (joint inflammation), arthralgia (joint pain), thyroid disease, vasculitis (blood vessel damage), and cryoglobulinemia (high levels of a blood protein that settles in the kidneys, skin, and nerve endings).

Most serious conditions are associated with late-stage HCV disease, when the liver is damaged and not able to function properly.

Many people with HCV never experience any of these conditions.

Check with your doctor if you experience any unusual symptoms.