Hepatitis C Sign And Symptom

In most case, people with hepatitis C infection have no sign and symptom of liver disease. In medicine, a sign of a disease is a finding noticed by the doctor, while a sympyom of a disease is a sensation noticed by the patient. Some patients will experience mild and non-specific symptom including fatigue, mild discomfort over the liver, nausea, and a poor appetite. It is difficult to confirm that these symptoms are directly related to hepatitis C because they are common in many people without the infection.

Once cirrhosis develops, there are subtle signs of early or "compensated" cirrhosis. Signs of early cirrhosis include enlargement of the liver or spleen, spots on the skin, and certain blood test abnormalities. Signs of late cirrhosis include jaundice, muscle wasting, abdominal swelling, ankle swelling, and confusion.

Early-stage hepatitis C sign and symptom
In common, hepatitis C infection has no sign or symptom in its earliest stages. When it does, they're generally mild and flu-like and may include:

• Slight fatigue
• Liver tenderness
  
• Nausea or poor appetite
• Muscle and joint pains

Later stage hepatitis C sign and symptom
Even if you develop chronic hepatitis from the hepatitis C virus, you may have few signs and symptoms. In many cases, hepatitis C sign and symptom may not appear for decades. Sometimes, however, you may experience one or more of the following:

• Fatigue
• Lack of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Persistent or recurring yellowing of your skin and eyes (jaundice)
• Low-grade fever

Hepatitis C can cause liver damage even thought you do not have any signs and symptoms. You're also able to pass the virus to others without having any symptoms yourself. That's why it's important to be tested if you think you've been exposed to hepatitis C or if you engage in behavior that puts you at risk.