Signs and Symptoms of Hepatitis C

What Are the Symptoms of Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C symptoms can vary significantly between individuals. Approximately 70-80% of people with acute hepatitis C infection don’t experience any symptoms at all. When symptoms do occur, they typically appear 2-12 weeks after exposure to the virus. Early symptoms of hepatitis C can include:

• Fatigue and general weakness

• Fever

• Nausea and vomiting

• Loss of appetite

• Abdominal pain, particularly in the upper right portion

• Dark urine

• Clay-colored bowel movements

• Joint pain

• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)

These symptoms can be mild and often mistaken for the flu or other common illnesses, which is why hepatitis C often goes undiagnosed during the acute phase. For many people, the infection becomes chronic without any noticeable signs until liver damage becomes significant decades later.

Who Is at Risk to Get Hepatitis C?

Several factors can increase a person’s risk of contracting hepatitis C. Understanding these risk factors can help identify those who should be screened regularly. The highest risk groups include:

• People who have injected drugs, even if only once or many years ago

• Recipients of blood transfusions or organ transplants before July 1992

• Recipients of clotting factor concentrates before 1987

• Long-term hemodialysis patients

• Healthcare workers with needlestick injuries

• People with HIV infection

• Children born to mothers with hepatitis C

• People who have received tattoos or body piercings with non-sterile equipment

• People who have shared personal items that might have blood on them (razors, toothbrushes)

• People who have had multiple sexual partners

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends hepatitis C screening for all adults at least once in their lifetime, and for pregnant women during each pregnancy. Regular testing is particularly important for those with ongoing risk factors.

Hepatitis C Treatment

Treatment options for hepatitis C have evolved dramatically in the past decade. Today’s treatments are more effective, have fewer side effects, and require a shorter duration than previous therapies. Modern hepatitis C treatments include:

Direct-Acting Antivirals (DAAs): These medications target specific steps in the hepatitis C virus life cycle to prevent the virus from multiplying. DAAs have revolutionized treatment with cure rates exceeding 95% for most patients. Common DAA regimens include Epclusa, Mavyret, and Zepatier.

Treatment duration typically ranges from 8-12 weeks for most patients. Factors that influence treatment decisions include the viral genotype, previous treatment experience, presence of cirrhosis, and other health conditions. The goal of treatment is to achieve sustained virologic response (SVR), which means the virus is undetectable in the blood 12 weeks after completing treatment and is considered a cure.

During treatment, patients need regular monitoring to assess medication effectiveness and potential side effects. While modern treatments are well-tolerated, side effects can include fatigue, headache, nausea, and insomnia. Serious side effects are rare but should be reported to healthcare providers immediately.

Preventing Hepatitis C

Since there is no vaccine for hepatitis C, prevention focuses on reducing the risk of exposure to the virus. Key prevention strategies include:

• Never sharing needles, syringes, or other drug injection equipment

• Following safety protocols in healthcare settings to prevent needlestick injuries

• Ensuring sterile equipment is used for tattoos and piercings

• Not sharing personal items that might have blood on them (razors, toothbrushes)

• Practicing safer sex, especially if you have multiple partners

• Screening blood, organ, and tissue donors

For those already diagnosed with hepatitis C, preventing transmission to others is important. This includes covering cuts and sores, not donating blood or organs, and not sharing personal items that might have blood on them. While the risk of sexual transmission is low in monogamous relationships, using barrier protection methods can further reduce this risk.

Complications From Hepatitis C

Without proper treatment, chronic hepatitis C infection can lead to serious liver complications over time. These complications typically develop slowly, over 20-30 years, and may include:

Fibrosis: Scarring of liver tissue that occurs as the liver attempts to repair damage from the virus.

Cirrhosis: Advanced scarring that disrupts liver function and structure. About 10-20% of people with chronic hepatitis C develop cirrhosis within 20-30 years.

Liver failure: When the liver can no longer perform its vital functions, potentially requiring a liver transplant.

Liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma): People with hepatitis C-related cirrhosis have a 1-4% annual risk of developing liver cancer.

Other complications can include conditions outside the liver, such as kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, lymphoma, and various autoimmune disorders. The risk of these complications increases the longer someone has the infection, emphasizing the importance of early detection and treatment.

Regular monitoring through blood tests, imaging studies, and sometimes liver biopsies is essential for people with chronic hepatitis C to detect complications early and adjust treatment as needed.

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalized guidance and treatment.