What Are the Symptoms of Hepatitis C?
People experience hepatitis C in different ways. They may not have any symptoms at all. In fact, symptoms of chronic hepatitis C may not appear until advanced liver disease is already present. This is why tests of your liver's health such as enzyme levels in your blood, other blood tests, a liver ultrasound, or a liver biopsy are important.
The common symptoms of hepatitis C may include:
- Fatigue
- Flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, muscle aches, joint pain, and headaches)
- Nausea, aversion to certain foods, unexplained weight loss
- Psychological disorders, including depression
- Tenderness in the abdomen
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
Here's the tricky part: for many people, hepatitis C is an asymptomatic condition. That means they may not have symptoms until many years after they are infected. But having no symptoms does not mean that hepatitis C is not attacking your liver. Many people are unaware of any symptoms until significant liver damage has occurred.
That's why it's so important to talk to your doctor about your treatment options.
Continue to learn how hepatitis C affects your liver