Hepatitis C is an inflammatory disease of the liver. It is caused by a virus and can also develop due to toxins or autoimmune processes. It can be serious if not treated on time. This article explains the common symptoms of Hepatitis C and the treatment that one can opt for.

Early symptoms
One of the major problems involved in the treatment of Hepatitis C is the fact that nearly 80% of all patients do not experience any symptoms. Hepatitis C may not be detected for months and years due to the lack of symptoms. This makes disease detection and treatment difficult. However, there are some early symptoms that may be seen in some people.

The early common symptoms of Hepatitis C include the following:

• Pain in the belly area
• Fever
• Urine that is dark in color
• Feces that is clay colored
• Extreme tiredness and exhaustion
• Pain in the joints
• A poor appetite and not feeling like eating anything
• Jaundice with yellow tinted eyes or skin
• Nausea and vomiting

Even though these are the early symptoms of the disease, they may take anywhere from two to twelve weeks to manifest. It is important to not ignore any of these symptoms.

Advanced symptoms
As the disease progresses, it becomes chronic in nature. The advanced symptoms are mostly related to the liver. Some of the advanced symptoms of the disease could include:

• Rashes or hives all over the body that causes itching
• Swelling in the legs due to water buildup
• Buildup of fluid in the belly leading to a swollen belly (known as Ascites)
• Sudden weight loss
• Hepatic encephalopathy, where symptoms like drowsiness, slurring in speech, and a state of confusion is observed.
• Spider angiomas, which are protruded blood vessels resembling spider webs may develop on the legs.

The progress of the disease can cause scarring of the liver or liver cirrhosis. In case a patient develops cirrhosis, then the symptoms can include:

• Water retention leading to bloating
• Bleeding and bruising easily
• Jaundice with eyes and skin becoming yellow.

In extreme cases, Hepatitis C can lead to liver cancer, which is one of the fatal types of cancer.

Diagnosis and treatment
Hepatitis C can be diagnosed based on the symptoms or maybe detected during a routine health checkup. A blood test can help in diagnosing Hepatitis C. If liver cancer is suspected, a biopsy may be done.

While earlier there was no treatment for Hepatitis C, now there are medications available. There is no vaccination available but doctors recommend vaccination for Hepatitis A and B that help to protect the liver. In case of liver failure, a liver transplant may be needed for treatment. Practicing safe sex and avoiding the sharing of needles can help in preventing Hepatitis C.

The information on common symptoms of Hepatitis C would have helped you understand more about the disease. Early detection of the disease helps in effective treatment. In case you observe any of the symptoms described, you would need to see a doctor.