Wirusowe zapalenie wątroby typu c
Objawy
Wirusowe zapalenie wątroby typu C (WZW C), wywołane przez HCV, jest istotnym problemem zdrowia publicznego, dotykającym około 58 milionów osób globalnie. Ostre zakażenie definiuje się jako okres do 6 miesięcy od ekspozycji, z 70-80% przypadków bezobjawowych, co utrudnia wczesną diagnostykę. Objawy ostrego WZW C obejmują m.in. gorączkę, żółtaczkę, ciemny mocz i bóle mięśni. Spontaniczny klirens wirusa występuje u 15-45% pacjentów, częściej u młodych kobiet z genotypem 1. Przewlekłe zakażenie, definiowane jako utrzymanie HCV >6 miesięcy, rozwija się u 55-85% zakażonych i prowadzi do postępującego włóknienia, marskości (20-30% w ciągu 20-30 lat) oraz zwiększonego ryzyka raka wątrobowokomórkowego (1-4% rocznie u pacjentów z marskością). Czynniki ryzyka progresji to m.in. płeć męska, wiek >40 lat, współzakażenia HBV/HIV, alkoholizm, otyłość i insulinooporność.
- Wirusowe zapalenie wątroby typu c – charakterystyka
- Objawy ostrego WZW C
- Przejście w przewlekłe WZW C
- Objawy przewlekłego WZW C
- Powikłania przewlekłego WZW C
- Włóknienie i marskość wątroby
- Niewydolność wątroby
- Rak wątrobowokomórkowy
- Objawy zaawansowanej choroby wątroby
- Manifestacje pozawątrobowe
- Różnice w progresji choroby u kobiet i mężczyzn
- Naturalny przebieg zakażenia HCV u dzieci
- Znaczenie wczesnego rozpoznania i leczenia
- Podsumowanie
Wirusowe zapalenie wątroby typu c – charakterystyka
Wirusowe zapalenie wątroby typu C (WZW C) to choroba zakaźna wątroby wywołana przez wirus zapalenia wątroby typu C (HCV). Jest to poważna infekcja, która może mieć charakter zarówno ostry, jak i przewlekły, prowadząca do stanu zapalnego wątroby i potencjalnie zagrażająca życiu12. WZW C uznawane jest za jedną z najważniejszych przyczyn przewlekłej choroby wątroby, marskości wątroby i raka wątrobowokomórkowego3. Choroba ta stanowi istotny problem zdrowia publicznego, dotykający około 58 milionów ludzi na całym świecie4.
Objawy ostrego WZW C
Ostre zakażenie wirusem HCV definiuje się jako pierwsze 6 miesięcy od momentu ekspozycji na wirusa56. Większość osób (70-80%) z ostrym zakażeniem HCV nie doświadcza żadnych objawów, co znacząco utrudnia wczesną diagnostykę78. Jeśli objawy występują, rozwijają się zwykle po okresie inkubacji trwającym od 2 do 26 tygodni (średnio 4-12 tygodni) po ekspozycji na wirusa910.
Objawy ostrego WZW C mogą obejmować:
- Objawy grypopodobne: gorączka, bóle mięśni i stawów, ból głowy, zmęczenie1112
- Objawy żołądkowo-jelitowe: nudności, wymioty, ból brzucha, utrata apetytu, biegunka1314
- Objawy związane z wątrobą: żółtaczka (zażółcenie skóry i oczu), ciemny mocz, jasne (gliniastego koloru) stolce, ból w prawym górnym kwadrancie brzucha1516
Samoistne ustąpienie ostrego zakażenia HCV obserwuje się u około 15-45% zakażonych osób w ciągu 6 miesięcy, bez konieczności leczenia1718. Proces ten nazywany jest spontanicznym kliransem wirusowym i częściej występuje u młodych kobiet z zakażeniem HCV typu 119.
Przejście w przewlekłe WZW C
U większości zakażonych osób (55-85%) ostre zakażenie HCV przechodzi w zakażenie przewlekłe20. Przewlekłe WZW C definiuje się jako utrzymywanie się wirusa HCV w organizmie przez okres dłuższy niż 6 miesięcy21. Przewlekła infekcja rozwija się u około 75-85% osób z ostrym WZW C2223.
Czynniki zwiększające ryzyko rozwoju przewlekłego zakażenia obejmują:
- Płeć męska (mężczyźni mają szybszą progresję choroby niż kobiety w wieku przedmenopauzalnym)24
- Wiek powyżej 40 lat w momencie zakażenia25
- Współistniejące zakażenie HBV lub HIV26
- Spożywanie alkoholu27
- Otyłość i insulinooporność28
Objawy przewlekłego WZW C
Przewlekłe WZW C często przebiega bezobjawowo przez wiele lat, a nawet dekad2930. To właśnie z tego powodu WZW C określane jest często jako „cicha epidemia”31. Objawy pojawiają się zwykle dopiero wtedy, gdy wirus spowodował już znaczne uszkodzenie wątroby32.
Objawy przewlekłego WZW C można podzielić na niespecyficzne i związane z uszkodzeniem wątroby:
Objawy niespecyficzne
Objawy niespecyficzne przewlekłego WZW C mogą być różnorodne i często nie są kojarzone z chorobą wątroby33. Należą do nich:
- Przewlekłe zmęczenie – najczęściej zgłaszany objaw, może być łagodne lub przytłaczające3435
- Bóle mięśni i stawów36
- Zaburzenia funkcji poznawczych – tzw. „mgła mózgowa”, problemy z pamięcią i koncentracją3738
- Zaburzenia nastroju – depresja, lęk, wahania nastroju3940
- Objawy żołądkowo-jelitowe – niestrawność, wzdęcia, nudności, bóle brzucha41
- Świąd skóry42
- Epizody gorączki i objawów grypopodobnych43
Objawy związane z uszkodzeniem wątroby
W miarę postępu choroby i narastania uszkodzenia wątroby mogą pojawić się bardziej specyficzne objawy44:
- Żółtaczka – zażółcenie skóry i białkówek oczu45
- Ciemny mocz46
- Jasne, gliniastego koloru stolce47
- Tendencja do krwawień i siniaków – związana z upośledzoną funkcją wątroby w produkcji czynników krzepnięcia48
- Pajączki naczyniowe – poszerzenia drobnych naczyń krwionośnych widoczne na skórze49
- Retencja płynów – obrzęki kończyn dolnych50
Powikłania przewlekłego WZW C
Nieleczone przewlekłe WZW C może prowadzić do poważnych powikłań dotyczących wątroby, znacząco wpływających na rokowanie pacjenta51.
Włóknienie i marskość wątroby
Przewlekłe zapalenie wątroby spowodowane przez HCV prowadzi do postępującego włóknienia (zwłóknienia) wątroby, które ostatecznie może przekształcić się w marskość wątroby52. Marskość charakteryzuje się nieodwracalnym zastąpieniem prawidłowej tkanki wątrobowej przez tkankę bliznowatą, co uniemożliwia prawidłowe funkcjonowanie narządu53.
Szacuje się, że około 20-30% osób z przewlekłym WZW C rozwinie marskość wątroby w ciągu 20-30 lat od zakażenia5455. Tempo progresji choroby jest bardzo indywidualne i zależy od wielu czynników, w tym wieku, płci, spożycia alkoholu, współistniejących chorób oraz czynników genetycznych56.
Niewydolność wątroby
Marskość wątroby może prowadzić do dekompensacji funkcji wątroby i niewydolności narządu57. Dekompensacja występuje u około 25% pacjentów z marskością w ciągu roku58. Objawy dekompensacji funkcji wątroby obejmują:
- Wodobrzusze (ascites) – gromadzenie się płynu w jamie brzusznej59
- Encefalopatia wątrobowa – zaburzenia funkcji mózgu spowodowane toksycznymi substancjami, które wątroba nie jest w stanie usunąć; objawiające się splątaniem, sennością i zaburzeniami mowy6061
- Żylaki przełyku i krwawienia z przewodu pokarmowego – spowodowane nadciśnieniem wrotnym6263
- Zespół wątrobowo-nerkowy – niewydolność nerek wtórna do ciężkiej choroby wątroby64
Zaawansowana niewydolność wątroby spowodowana przez WZW C jest jednym z głównych wskazań do przeszczepu wątroby65.
Rak wątrobowokomórkowy
Przewlekłe zakażenie HCV znacząco zwiększa ryzyko rozwoju raka wątrobowokomórkowego (HCC), szczególnie u pacjentów z marskością wątroby66. Roczne ryzyko rozwoju HCC u pacjentów z marskością wywołaną przez HCV wynosi około 1-4%6768.
Objawy zaawansowanej choroby wątroby
W zaawansowanym stadium choroby wątroby spowodowanej przez HCV mogą wystąpić następujące objawy69:
- Nasilona żółtaczka70
- Wodobrzusze (ascites)71
- Obrzęki kończyn dolnych72
- Krwawienia wewnętrzne73
- Encefalopatia wątrobowa74
- Gorączka75
- Siniaczenie76
- Ból brzucha77
- Utrata apetytu78
- Nudności i wymioty79
- Śpiączka80
Manifestacje pozawątrobowe
HCV jest wirusem ogólnoustrojowym, który może wywoływać objawy i schorzenia poza wątrobą. Szacuje się, że do 74% pacjentów z przewlekłym zakażeniem HCV rozwija manifestacje pozawątrobowe81. Do najczęstszych należą:
- Krioglobulinemia mieszana – schorzenie związane z odkładaniem się kompleksów immunologicznych w drobnych naczyniach, prowadzące do zapalenia naczyń, objawów skórnych i uszkodzenia nerek82
- Choroby nerek – w tym błoniasto-rozplemowe kłębuszkowe zapalenie nerek83
- Cukrzyca typu 2 – występuje 4-krotnie częściej u osób z HCV i przyspiesza włóknienie wątroby8485
- Choroby dermatologiczne – w tym porfiria skórna późna i liszaj płaski86
- Zaburzenia hematologiczne – małopłytkowość, chłoniaki typu non-Hodgkin87
- Choroby tarczycy – zarówno niedoczynność, jak i nadczynność88
- Objawy reumatologiczne – bóle stawów i mięśni89
Różnice w progresji choroby u kobiet i mężczyzn
Przebieg zakażenia HCV różni się między kobietami i mężczyznami. U kobiet w wieku przedmenopauzalnym choroba zazwyczaj postępuje wolniej niż u mężczyzn, co przypisuje się ochronnemu działaniu estrogenów90. Estrogeny mają działanie hamujące na przebieg przewlekłego zakażenia HCV u kobiet, co powoduje, że choroba ma tendencję do wolniejszej progresji91.
Sytuacja zmienia się po menopauzie, kiedy to poziom estrogenów gwałtownie spada. U kobiet po menopauzie obserwuje się nagłe (i często szybkie) nasilenie aktywności choroby, podczas gdy u mężczyzn choroba postępuje bardziej równomiernie92. Hormonalna terapia zastępcza (HTZ) stosowana u niektórych kobiet po menopauzie może spowolnić tempo progresji HCV i stopień włóknienia wątroby93.
Naturalny przebieg zakażenia HCV u dzieci
Zakażenie HCV u dzieci ma pewne odrębności w porównaniu z osobami dorosłymi. Większość niemowląt i dzieci z zakażeniem HCV nie wykazuje objawów94. Objawy mogą obejmować:
- Bóle ciała, gorączkę, biegunkę lub nudności95
- Skrajne zmęczenie96
- Brak apetytu lub utratę masy ciała97
- Ciemny, żółty mocz98
- Jasne, gliniastego koloru stolce99
- Ból brzucha, zwłaszcza w prawym górnym kwadrancie100
- Żółtaczkę101
Niemowlęta z zakażeniem HCV mogą również mieć powiększoną wątrobę lub śledzionę, wolniej rosnąć lub nie przybierać na wadze102. Około 60-80% zakażonych dzieci i młodzieży może rozwinąć przewlekłe zakażenie wątroby103.
Znaczenie wczesnego rozpoznania i leczenia
Wczesne wykrycie i leczenie WZW C ma kluczowe znaczenie dla zapobiegania rozwojowi poważnych powikłań104. Obecnie dostępne leki przeciwwirusowe (DAA – leki przeciwwirusowe o bezpośrednim działaniu) charakteryzują się wysoką skutecznością, z odsetkiem wyleczeń sięgającym 95-98%105.
Skuteczne leczenie WZW C:
- Eliminuje wirusa z organizmu106
- Zmniejsza stan zapalny wątroby107
- Może odwrócić włóknienie, a nawet marskość wątroby108109
- Zmniejsza ryzyko rozwoju raka wątrobowokomórkowego110
- Zapobiega transmisji wirusa na inne osoby111
Należy podkreślić, że pacjenci mogą zostać ponownie zakażeni HCV po wyleczeniu, dlatego osoby z grupy ryzyka powinny być regularnie badane112.
Podsumowanie
Wirusowe zapalenie wątroby typu C to poważna choroba zakaźna, która w większości przypadków przebiega bezobjawowo przez długi czas. Przejście zakażenia ostrego w przewlekłe dotyczy 55-85% zakażonych osób. Nieleczone przewlekłe WZW C może prowadzić do poważnych powikłań, w tym marskości wątroby, niewydolności wątroby i raka wątrobowokomórkowego w ciągu 20-30 lat od zakażenia113114.
Objawy WZW C mogą być niespecyficzne i różnorodne, od przewlekłego zmęczenia i bólów stawów, po objawy związane z uszkodzeniem wątroby, takie jak żółtaczka, wodobrzusze czy encefalopatia wątrobowa. Ze względu na bezobjawowy przebieg we wczesnych stadiach, WZW C często wykrywane jest przypadkowo lub dopiero wtedy, gdy doszło już do znacznego uszkodzenia wątroby115.
Wczesne wykrycie i leczenie WZW C ma kluczowe znaczenie dla zapobiegania rozwojowi poważnych powikłań i poprawy rokowania pacjentów116. Obecne metody leczenia przeciwwirusowego charakteryzują się wysoką skutecznością, z odsetkiem wyleczeń sięgającym 95-98%117.
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Materiały źródłowe
- #1https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-c
Hepatitis C is a viral infection that affects the liver. It can cause both acute (short term) and chronic (long term) illness. It can be life-threatening. […] Symptoms can include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine and yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice). […] Most people do not have symptoms in the first weeks after infection. It can take between two weeks and six months to have symptoms. […] When symptoms do appear, they may include: fever, feeling very tired, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, pale faeces, joint pain, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). […] Acute HCV infections are usually asymptomatic and most do not lead to a life-threatening disease. Around 30% (15-45%) of infected persons spontaneously clear the virus within 6 months of infection without any treatment.
- #2 Hepatitis C | HCV | MedlinePlushttps://medlineplus.gov/hepatitisc.html
Hepatitis C can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness. […] Acute hepatitis C is a short-term infection. The symptoms can last up to 6 months. Sometimes your body is able to fight off the infection and the virus goes away. But for most people, an acute infection leads to chronic infection. […] Chronic hepatitis C is a long-lasting infection. If it is not treated, it can last for a lifetime and cause serious health problems, including liver damage, cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver cancer, and even death. […] Most people with hepatitis C have no symptoms. Some people with acute hepatitis C do have symptoms within 1 to 3 months after they are exposed to the virus. These symptoms may include: Dark yellow urine, Fatigue, Fever, Gray- or clay-colored stools, Joint pain, Loss of appetite, Nausea and/or vomiting, Pain in your abdomen (belly), Jaundice (yellowish eyes and skin).
- #3 Hepatitis C – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelfhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430897/
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health problem affecting 58 million people worldwide. Most patients (80% to 85%) who become acutely infected cannot clear the virus and progress to chronic infection. The effects of chronic infection include cirrhosis, portal hypertension, hepatic decompensation with encephalopathy, and hepatocellular carcinoma. […] Symptoms are nonspecific and include fatigue or malaise, intermittent right upper quadrant pain, and joint pain as well as a general feeling of being unwell with overall reduced quality of life. It is challenging to relate these symptoms to HCV alone, as there could be a potential psychological basis due to the knowledge of having an underlying chronic disease. […] Ten percent to 20% of HCV-infected persons with cirrhosis decompensate clinically within 5 years, as evidenced by the development of portal hypertension, esophageal varices, ascites, coagulopathy, encephalopathy, or hepatocellular carcinoma.
- #4 Hepatitis C – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelfhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430897/
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health problem affecting 58 million people worldwide. Most patients (80% to 85%) who become acutely infected cannot clear the virus and progress to chronic infection. The effects of chronic infection include cirrhosis, portal hypertension, hepatic decompensation with encephalopathy, and hepatocellular carcinoma. […] Symptoms are nonspecific and include fatigue or malaise, intermittent right upper quadrant pain, and joint pain as well as a general feeling of being unwell with overall reduced quality of life. It is challenging to relate these symptoms to HCV alone, as there could be a potential psychological basis due to the knowledge of having an underlying chronic disease. […] Ten percent to 20% of HCV-infected persons with cirrhosis decompensate clinically within 5 years, as evidenced by the development of portal hypertension, esophageal varices, ascites, coagulopathy, encephalopathy, or hepatocellular carcinoma.
- #5 Hepatitis C | NHS informhttps://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/stomach-liver-and-gastrointestinal-tract/hepatitis-c/
Many people with hepatitis C wont have any symptoms until the liver has been significantly damaged. This means many people have the infection without knowing. […] Most people will not have symptoms during the first 6 months of a hepatitis C infection. This stage is known as acute hepatitis C. […] If symptoms do develop, they usually occur a few weeks after infection. […] Early symptoms may include: a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above, tiredness, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, feeling and being sick, yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice). […] Symptoms can vary from person to person. They can also go away for long periods of time and then return. […] Later symptoms may include: feeling tired all the time, joint and muscle aches and pain, feeling sick, brain fog including problems with memory, concentration and mental tasks such as arithmetic, mood swings, depression or anxiety, indigestion or bloating, itchy skin, abdominal pain.
- #6 Hepatitis C | HCV | MedlinePlushttps://medlineplus.gov/hepatitisc.html
Hepatitis C can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness. […] Acute hepatitis C is a short-term infection. The symptoms can last up to 6 months. Sometimes your body is able to fight off the infection and the virus goes away. But for most people, an acute infection leads to chronic infection. […] Chronic hepatitis C is a long-lasting infection. If it is not treated, it can last for a lifetime and cause serious health problems, including liver damage, cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver cancer, and even death. […] Most people with hepatitis C have no symptoms. Some people with acute hepatitis C do have symptoms within 1 to 3 months after they are exposed to the virus. These symptoms may include: Dark yellow urine, Fatigue, Fever, Gray- or clay-colored stools, Joint pain, Loss of appetite, Nausea and/or vomiting, Pain in your abdomen (belly), Jaundice (yellowish eyes and skin).
- #7 Clinical Signs and Symptoms of Hepatitis C | Hepatitis C | CDChttps://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis-c/hcp/clinical-signs/index.html
Many people with acute or chronic hepatitis C don’t look or feel sick and therefore don’t know they are infected. […] Most people with chronic hepatitis C will not have specific symptoms for 20 years or more. […] If a patient does have symptoms, they are usually non-specific complaints like fatigue or depression. […] Without treatment, chronic hepatitis C infection can progress to chronic liver disease. […] Without early diagnosis and treatment, patients with hepatitis C can develop chronic liver disease, which can range from mild to severe. The disease can progress silently and slowly over several decades. […] Most people with chronic HCV infection experience non-specific symptoms such as chronic fatigue and depression or have no symptoms at all. Many eventually develop severe chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer.
- #8 Hepatitis C – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinichttps://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-c/symptoms-causes/syc-20354278
Hepatitis C is a viral infection that causes liver swelling, called inflammation. Hepatitis C can lead to serious liver damage. […] But many people with hepatitis C don’t know they have it. That’s mainly because symptoms can take decades to appear. […] Every long-term hepatitis C infection starts with what’s called an acute phase. Acute hepatitis C usually isn’t diagnosed because it rarely causes symptoms. When there are symptoms in this phase, they may include jaundice, fatigue, nausea, fever and muscle aches. […] Long-term infection with the hepatitis C virus is called chronic hepatitis C. Chronic hepatitis C usually has no symptoms for many years. Symptoms appear only after the virus damages the liver enough to cause them. […] Symptoms can include: Bleeding easily. Bruising easily. Fatigue. Not wanting to eat. Yellowing of the skin, called jaundice. This might show up more in white people. Also, yellowing of the whites of the eyes in white, Black and brown people. Dark-colored urine. Itchy skin. Fluid buildup in the stomach area, called ascites. Swelling in the legs. Weight loss. Confusion, drowsiness and slurred speech, called hepatic encephalopathy. Spiderlike blood vessels on the skin, called spider angiomas. […] Acute hepatitis C infection doesn’t always become chronic. Some people clear the infection from their bodies after the acute phase. This is called spontaneous viral clearance. Antiviral therapy also helps clear acute hepatitis C.
- #9 Hepatitis C: Stages and Progressionhttps://www.webmd.com/hepatitis/hepatitis-c-stages-progression
Hepatitis C can cause both acute and chronic infections. There is no vaccine to stop hep C, but most cases can be treated. […] Symptoms: Often you won’t even know you have acute hepatitis C because it usually doesn’t cause symptoms. If you do have some, they usually last from 2 weeks to 3 months. They might include: Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), Feeling tired, Nausea, Fever, Muscle aches. […] Symptoms: Most of the time, people with this don’t have specific symptoms. If they do, they’re usually common things like fatigue. As a result, people don’t find out they have it until they donate blood or have their blood tested at a regular doctor’s visit. […] If you have hepatitis C for many years, or if it is untreated, it can cause serious problems, including Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), Liver cancer, Liver failure.
- #10 Signs and Symptoms of Hepatitis C | Hepatitis C | CDChttps://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis-c/signs-symptoms/index.html
Many people with hepatitis C do not have symptoms and do not know they are infected. If symptoms occur with an acute infection, they can appear any time from 2 weeks to 6 months after exposure. […] Symptoms of acute hepatitis C can include: Dark urine or clay-colored stools, Feeling tired, Fever, Joint pain, Loss of appetite, Nausea, stomach pain, throwing up, Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice). […] Symptoms of chronic hepatitis C can take decades to develop and are typically the same as those for acute infection.
- #11https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-c
Hepatitis C is a viral infection that affects the liver. It can cause both acute (short term) and chronic (long term) illness. It can be life-threatening. […] Symptoms can include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine and yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice). […] Most people do not have symptoms in the first weeks after infection. It can take between two weeks and six months to have symptoms. […] When symptoms do appear, they may include: fever, feeling very tired, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, pale faeces, joint pain, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). […] Acute HCV infections are usually asymptomatic and most do not lead to a life-threatening disease. Around 30% (15-45%) of infected persons spontaneously clear the virus within 6 months of infection without any treatment.
- #12 Hepatitis C: Symptoms, What It Is, How You Get It, Treatmenthttps://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15664-hepatitis-c
Hepatitis C symptoms can feel like flu symptoms. Common symptoms are abdominal pain, clay-colored or gray poop and fatigue. Hepatitis C symptoms develop over months or years. They may include abdominal pain, clay-colored or gray poop and fatigue. […] Most people dont have any symptoms. People with acute hepatitis C may feel like theyre coming down with flu. They may have the following symptoms: Abdominal pain, Body aches, Dark-colored pee (urine), Fatigue, Fever, Gray- or clay-colored poop (stool), Jaundice, Joint pain, Loss of appetite, Nausea and vomiting. […] Chronic hepatitis C symptoms happen over months and, sometimes, years. Often, the first symptoms you may notice are symptoms of cirrhosis like: Confusion and changes in behavior and mood from hepatic encephalopathy, Excessive bleeding (hemorrhage), Jaundice, Pain in your upper left abdomen (belly), Reddish or dark-colored skin on your palms, Small, spiderlike blood vessels in your skin (spider angiomas), Swollen belly and unexplained weight gain from ascites (fluid buildup in your belly), Vomiting blood because swollen veins in your esophagus (esophageal varices) cause bleeding in your digestive tract.
- #13 Hepatitis C: Symptoms, What It Is, How You Get It, Treatmenthttps://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15664-hepatitis-c
Hepatitis C symptoms can feel like flu symptoms. Common symptoms are abdominal pain, clay-colored or gray poop and fatigue. Hepatitis C symptoms develop over months or years. They may include abdominal pain, clay-colored or gray poop and fatigue. […] Most people dont have any symptoms. People with acute hepatitis C may feel like theyre coming down with flu. They may have the following symptoms: Abdominal pain, Body aches, Dark-colored pee (urine), Fatigue, Fever, Gray- or clay-colored poop (stool), Jaundice, Joint pain, Loss of appetite, Nausea and vomiting. […] Chronic hepatitis C symptoms happen over months and, sometimes, years. Often, the first symptoms you may notice are symptoms of cirrhosis like: Confusion and changes in behavior and mood from hepatic encephalopathy, Excessive bleeding (hemorrhage), Jaundice, Pain in your upper left abdomen (belly), Reddish or dark-colored skin on your palms, Small, spiderlike blood vessels in your skin (spider angiomas), Swollen belly and unexplained weight gain from ascites (fluid buildup in your belly), Vomiting blood because swollen veins in your esophagus (esophageal varices) cause bleeding in your digestive tract.
- #14 Hepatitis C | HCV | MedlinePlushttps://medlineplus.gov/hepatitisc.html
Hepatitis C can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness. […] Acute hepatitis C is a short-term infection. The symptoms can last up to 6 months. Sometimes your body is able to fight off the infection and the virus goes away. But for most people, an acute infection leads to chronic infection. […] Chronic hepatitis C is a long-lasting infection. If it is not treated, it can last for a lifetime and cause serious health problems, including liver damage, cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver cancer, and even death. […] Most people with hepatitis C have no symptoms. Some people with acute hepatitis C do have symptoms within 1 to 3 months after they are exposed to the virus. These symptoms may include: Dark yellow urine, Fatigue, Fever, Gray- or clay-colored stools, Joint pain, Loss of appetite, Nausea and/or vomiting, Pain in your abdomen (belly), Jaundice (yellowish eyes and skin).
- #15 Hepatitis C: Symptoms, What It Is, How You Get It, Treatmenthttps://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15664-hepatitis-c
Hepatitis C symptoms can feel like flu symptoms. Common symptoms are abdominal pain, clay-colored or gray poop and fatigue. Hepatitis C symptoms develop over months or years. They may include abdominal pain, clay-colored or gray poop and fatigue. […] Most people dont have any symptoms. People with acute hepatitis C may feel like theyre coming down with flu. They may have the following symptoms: Abdominal pain, Body aches, Dark-colored pee (urine), Fatigue, Fever, Gray- or clay-colored poop (stool), Jaundice, Joint pain, Loss of appetite, Nausea and vomiting. […] Chronic hepatitis C symptoms happen over months and, sometimes, years. Often, the first symptoms you may notice are symptoms of cirrhosis like: Confusion and changes in behavior and mood from hepatic encephalopathy, Excessive bleeding (hemorrhage), Jaundice, Pain in your upper left abdomen (belly), Reddish or dark-colored skin on your palms, Small, spiderlike blood vessels in your skin (spider angiomas), Swollen belly and unexplained weight gain from ascites (fluid buildup in your belly), Vomiting blood because swollen veins in your esophagus (esophageal varices) cause bleeding in your digestive tract.
- #16 Signs and Symptoms of Hepatitis C | Hepatitis C | CDChttps://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis-c/signs-symptoms/index.html
Many people with hepatitis C do not have symptoms and do not know they are infected. If symptoms occur with an acute infection, they can appear any time from 2 weeks to 6 months after exposure. […] Symptoms of acute hepatitis C can include: Dark urine or clay-colored stools, Feeling tired, Fever, Joint pain, Loss of appetite, Nausea, stomach pain, throwing up, Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice). […] Symptoms of chronic hepatitis C can take decades to develop and are typically the same as those for acute infection.
- #17https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-c
Hepatitis C is a viral infection that affects the liver. It can cause both acute (short term) and chronic (long term) illness. It can be life-threatening. […] Symptoms can include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine and yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice). […] Most people do not have symptoms in the first weeks after infection. It can take between two weeks and six months to have symptoms. […] When symptoms do appear, they may include: fever, feeling very tired, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, pale faeces, joint pain, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). […] Acute HCV infections are usually asymptomatic and most do not lead to a life-threatening disease. Around 30% (15-45%) of infected persons spontaneously clear the virus within 6 months of infection without any treatment.
- #18 Symptoms and Warning Signs of Hepatitis Chttps://www.healthline.com/health/hepatitis-c/symptoms
Hepatitis C wont necessarily become chronic. […] As a matter of fact, for anywhere from 15 to 45 percent of people with acute hepatitis C, the virus will clear up without treatment. […] However, if your body cant get rid of the hepatitis C virus, the infection wont go away. Instead, it will become chronic, or long-term. […] Experts arent sure why some people develop the chronic form of the disease and others dont. But more than half of all people with the hepatitis C virus will eventually develop the chronic form, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- #19 Common Signs and Symptoms of Hepatitis C | Treatment Options –https://www.mylabbox.com/resources/common-signs-symptoms-hepatitis-c/?srsltid=AfmBOopVfcIoBSZl8HRRl-oh-kVb2imyuOV2Zl3BjOeANDhD4L7qEsbP
The Hep C virus damages the liver of an infected person, resulting in serious liver inflammation and scarring. Depending on how long the infection goes untreated, it can cause liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and eventually death. […] On average, HCV symptoms appear 2-12 weeks after exposure, but it can take up to 26 weeks. […] Roughly 15-25% of HCV infections are resolved by the body without treatment. This happens most frequently in young women with a type 1 HCV infection. However, the Hep C virus reproduces and changes in response to the body’s immune reaction, often resulting in chronic infection.
- #20https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-c
The remaining 70% (55-85%) of persons will develop chronic HCV infection. Of those with chronic HCV infection, the risk of cirrhosis ranges from 15% to 30% within 20 years. […] Because new HCV infections are usually asymptomatic, few people are diagnosed when the infection is recent. In those people who develop chronic HCV infection, the infection is often undiagnosed because it remains asymptomatic until decades after infection when symptoms develop secondary to serious liver damage. […] After a person has been diagnosed with chronic HCV infection, an assessment should be conducted to determine the degree of liver damage (fibrosis and cirrhosis). This can be done by liver biopsy or through a variety of non-invasive tests. The degree of liver damage is used to guide treatment decisions and management of the disease.
- #21 Hepatitis C, Chronic – Liver and Gallbladder Disorders – Merck Manual Consumer Versionhttps://www.merckmanuals.com/home/liver-and-gallbladder-disorders/hepatitis/hepatitis-c-chronic
Chronic hepatitis C is inflammation of the liver that is caused by the hepatitis C virus and that has lasted more than 6 months. […] Hepatitis C often causes no symptoms until after it has badly damaged the liver. […] Many people with chronic hepatitis C have no symptoms. Some have a feeling of being generally ill (malaise), loss of appetite, fatigue, and vague abdominal discomfort. […] Often, the first specific symptoms are those of cirrhosis or complications of cirrhosis. These symptoms can include an enlarged spleen, small spiderlike blood vessels visible in the skin (called spider angiomas), redness of the palms, accumulation of fluid within the abdomen (ascites), a tendency to bleed (coagulopathy), bleeding in the digestive tract due to esophageal varices, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes), and deterioration of brain function due to malfunction of the liver (hepatic encephalopathy). […] Chronic hepatitis C, if untreated, causes cirrhosis in about 20 to 30% of people. However, cirrhosis may take decades to develop. The risk of liver cancer is increased usually only if cirrhosis is present.
- #22 Hepatitis C: Symptoms & Causes | NewYork-Presbyterianhttps://www.nyp.org/digestive/liver-diseases/hepatitis-c
Signs your liver may be failing or that you have cirrhosis (liver scarring): Fatigue, Weakness, Itchy skin, Dark urine, Fluid buildup in the legs (edema) or abdomen (ascites), Nausea, Reduced appetite, Bleeding or bruising easily, Hepatic encephalopathy – confusion, drowsiness, and slurred speech, Spider angiomas – spidery blood vessels under your skin. […] About 75% to 85% of people who test positive for hepatitis C will develop chronic, or long-term, HCV. If treated early on, symptoms can be managed and even cured. An untreated HCV infection that lasts for many years can cause: Resistance to the hormone insulin, Enlarged spleen, Cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, Liver cancer, Liver failure.
- #23 Hepatitis C: What happens in end-stage liver disease?https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-c/expert-answers/hepatitis-c/faq-20058533
End-stage hepatitis C means the liver has been severely damaged by the hepatitis C virus. The hepatitis C virus slowly damages the liver over many years, often progressing from inflammation to permanent, irreversible scarring (cirrhosis). Often, people have no signs or symptoms of liver disease or have only mild symptoms for years or even decades until they develop cirrhosis. […] Symptoms of end-stage liver disease may include: Easy bleeding or bruising, Persistent or recurring yellowing of your skin and eyes (jaundice), Intense itching, Abdominal pain, Loss of appetite, Nausea, Swelling due to fluid buildup in your abdomen and legs, Problems with concentration and memory. […] Cirrhosis usually progresses to the point where the liver loses most or all of its function liver failure. In addition, people with cirrhosis may develop: Bleeding of the digestive (gastrointestinal) tract due to enlarged veins in the tube that connects the throat and stomach (esophagus), a condition known as esophageal varices, Brain and nervous system damage due to the buildup of toxins in the bloodstream (hepatic encephalopathy). […] Cirrhosis also increases your risk of liver cancer.
- #24 Symptoms of Hepatitis C in Womenhttps://www.verywellhealth.com/hepatitis-c-symptoms-in-females-4776511
The symptoms of hepatitis C in women are similar to those in men. However, the disease can progress differently in people who are biologically female. Hepatitis C is a potentially fatal viral infection that can cause long-term damage to the liver. […] For some people, however, the infection can persist and become chronic, causing progressive injury to the liver. Over the course of years or decades, chronic hepatitis C can progress silently, leading to liver fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis (liver damage), liver failure, and liver cancer. For many, the disease will only become apparent in the advanced stages of infection. […] The review further details that women usually experience a sudden increase in disease activity in later, post-menopausal years, whereas men have steadier, albeit more rapid, disease progression.
- #25 Hepatitis C Progression – Hephttps://www.hepmag.com/basics/liver-health/hepatitis-c-progression
Symptoms of advanced cirrhosis may include a bloated belly from fluid buildup (ascites), bleeding from enlarged blood vessels in the esophagus and stomach (varices) and cognitive impairmentand even comadue to buildup of toxins in the brain (hepatic encephalopathy). […] It typically takes around 20 to 30 years for a person with hepatitis C to develop advanced cirrhosis, but several factors can accelerate its progression, including older age, obesity, heavy alcohol use and compromised immunity. […] Although cirrhosis is not always life-threatening, between 1% and 5% of people with untreated chronic hepatitis C will die from liver cancer or liver failure. Effective antiviral treatment can slow or halt liver disease progression, but it does not always fully reverse existing damage, especially if a person has already developed cirrhosis.
- #26 Hepatitis C – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelfhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430897/
Only 10-15% of patients infected with HCV have a self-limited infection; in all others, the infection is progressive. About 20% develop cirrhosis within 2 decades, and another 1% to 5% develop liver cancer within 3 decades. The progression of the disease is more common in heavy users of alcohol, cirrhotics, and those with a coexisting HBV infection. Individuals who have an undetectable viral load generally have a decreased risk of developing cirrhosis and death.
- #27 Hepatitis C – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelfhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430897/
Only 10-15% of patients infected with HCV have a self-limited infection; in all others, the infection is progressive. About 20% develop cirrhosis within 2 decades, and another 1% to 5% develop liver cancer within 3 decades. The progression of the disease is more common in heavy users of alcohol, cirrhotics, and those with a coexisting HBV infection. Individuals who have an undetectable viral load generally have a decreased risk of developing cirrhosis and death.
- #28 NATURAL HISTORY OF HEPATITIS Chttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5939344/
Hepatitis C infection is a common cause of cirrhosis and indication for liver transplantation in the United States. […] The outcome of chronic hepatitis C is variable. It is estimated that 20-25% will develop cirrhosis over a 25-30 year period. […] Approximately 20-30% of persons with chronic hepatitis will progress to cirrhosis over a 25-30 year period. […] Once cirrhosis develops patients are at risk for hepatic decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma and liver-related death. […] The development of cirrhosis is an important milestone in the natural history of chronic hepatitis C. […] Once decompensation develops, there is an increased risk of death or need for liver transplant. […] Insulin resistance and diabetes are associated with faster progression fibrosis, increased risk of cirrhosis and its complications including HCC and lower response to therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
- #29 Clinical Signs and Symptoms of Hepatitis C | Hepatitis C | CDChttps://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis-c/hcp/clinical-signs/index.html
Many people with acute or chronic hepatitis C don’t look or feel sick and therefore don’t know they are infected. […] Most people with chronic hepatitis C will not have specific symptoms for 20 years or more. […] If a patient does have symptoms, they are usually non-specific complaints like fatigue or depression. […] Without treatment, chronic hepatitis C infection can progress to chronic liver disease. […] Without early diagnosis and treatment, patients with hepatitis C can develop chronic liver disease, which can range from mild to severe. The disease can progress silently and slowly over several decades. […] Most people with chronic HCV infection experience non-specific symptoms such as chronic fatigue and depression or have no symptoms at all. Many eventually develop severe chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer.
- #30 Hepatitis C | Mass.govhttps://www.mass.gov/info-details/hepatitis-c
When first infected with hepatitis C virus, most people have no symptoms at all, or may have only mild symptoms. For those who do develop symptoms, the symptoms usually appear six weeks to six months after infection. Many people with chronic hepatitis C infection do not develop symptoms until years, sometimes even decades, later. The longer people live with hepatitis C infection, the more likely they are to develop serious, life-threatening liver disease.
- #31 What Causes Gallstones? Symptoms, Risk Factors, and How to Treat Themhttps://windsordigestivehealth.com/symptoms-and-causes-of-hepatitis-c/
In the United States, hepatitis C (HCV) remains a significant public health challenge. According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 2.4 million Americans are living with chronic hepatitis C. […] Most people with acute hepatitis C infection do not experience symptoms and may not realize they have been infected. In cases where symptoms do appear, they can be nonspecific and include fatigue, fever, dark urine, clay-colored stool, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, joint pain, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). […] These symptoms can vary in intensity and might not appear until the liver is significantly damaged. Due to the often silent nature of its onset, hepatitis C is sometimes referred to as the „silent epidemic,” highlighting the importance of screening, especially for those at higher risk of exposure. […] Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to avoid long-term complications like liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Patients need regular follow-ups with their healthcare providers to monitor the response to treatment and ensure the virus is completely cleared from their system.
- #32 Hepatitis C | Better Health Channelhttps://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/hepatitis-c
Hepatitis C is a virus that causes inflammation and damage to the liver. […] Many people who live with hepatitis C do not have symptoms until they have had the virus for a long time and there is a lot of liver damage. […] Not everyone with hepatitis C has symptoms. The only way to know if you have hepatitis is by talking to your doctor and getting a blood test. […] Many people living with hepatitis C feel well and only have symptoms once the disease has progressed and there is serious liver damage. […] If you do not have symptoms this does not mean that the virus isnt causing damage. […] When first infected, some people may find: dark or darker urine, yellowing of eyes and skin (this is known as jaundice), minor flu-like illness. […] These symptoms may disappear within a few weeks, but this does not necessarily mean that the infection has been cleared.
- #33 Clinical manifestations and natural history of chronic hepatitis C virus infection – UpToDatehttps://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-manifestations-and-natural-history-of-chronic-hepatitis-c-virus-infection/print
Following infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), chronic infection typically occurs, with approximately 50 to 85 percent of cases developing chronic hepatitis. However, chronic HCV infection is usually slowly progressive and may not result in clinically apparent liver disease in many patients. Approximately 5 to 30 percent of chronically infected individuals develop cirrhosis over a 20- to 30-year period of time. […] Although many patients with chronic HCV infection are symptomatic, most symptoms are nonspecific and not clearly a result of HCV infection itself. Even if cirrhosis develops, many patients have only nonspecific symptoms. Occasionally, patients have specific extrahepatic findings (such as cryoglobulinemia, renal disease, or specific dermatologic disorders) that are directly related to HCV infection.
- #34 Signs Symptoms | Caring Ambassadorshttps://caringambassadors.org/hepatitis-c/signs-symptoms/
Hepatitis C affects different people in different ways. This chapter reviews the most common signs and symptoms experienced by people with chronic hepatitis C. Many people with hepatitis C have no symptoms. […] If you have any of the signs or symptoms described in this chapter, it is important not to assume they are a result of having hepatitis C. […] The possible signs and symptoms of hepatitis C without cirrhosis involve every organ system of the body. Although some of these symptoms can be quite uncomfortable, most of them do not indicate that your liver disease is getting worse. […] Fatigue is feeling tired. Nearly all people with hepatitis C experience fatigue at one time or another. The fatigue may be mild and relieved by naps or going to bed early. However, fatigue can be severe, feeling like near exhaustion even after a full night of sleep.
- #35 Clinical manifestations and natural history of chronic hepatitis C virus infection – UpToDatehttps://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-manifestations-and-natural-history-of-chronic-hepatitis-c-virus-infection/print
Patients with chronic HCV infection often have a high symptom burden, but the extent to which HCV infection itself, rather than comorbid conditions, contributes to the symptoms is unclear. The most frequent complaints are fatigue and sleep disturbances; other symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, anorexia, myalgia, arthralgia, weakness, and weight loss. Neuropsychiatric symptoms (eg, depression and anxiety) are also common. […] However, the symptoms of chronic HCV infection are not necessarily specific to the infection itself. In one study of 100 patients with chronic HCV infection without cirrhosis, fatigue was the most common self-reported complaint, but it occurred with similar frequency among 100 healthy blood donor controls without HCV infection (62 versus 70 percent in controls). Abdominal pain, itching, and dark urine were the only complaints that were more common among the HCV-infected patients, although they were present in only a small number of patients. In a subsequent study of 1600 patients with chronic HCV infection, although symptoms were highly prevalent and often severe, symptom burden was more strongly associated with demographic, socioeconomic, and psychiatric features than markers of liver inflammation or fibrosis.
- #36https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hepatitis-c/symptoms/
The symptoms of long-term (chronic) hepatitis C can vary widely. In some people, symptoms may be barely noticeable. In others, they can have a significant impact on their quality of life. […] Some of the most common problems experienced by people with chronic hepatitis C include: feeling tired all the time, joint and muscle aches and pain, feeling sick, problems with short-term memory, concentration and completing complex mental tasks such as mental arithmetic many people describe this as „brain fog”, mood swings, depression or anxiety, indigestion or bloating, itchy skin, abdominal pain. […] If left untreated, the infection can eventually cause the liver to become scarred (cirrhosis). Signs of cirrhosis can include jaundice, vomiting blood, dark poo, and a build-up of fluid in the legs or abdomen.
- #37 Signs Symptoms | Caring Ambassadorshttps://caringambassadors.org/hepatitis-c/signs-symptoms/
Many people with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) experience fevers from time to time. The fevers are usually low, typically less than 101 degrees Fahrenheit. […] Fluid retention occurs when your body holds on to more water than it needs. The extra water leaks into the tissues. You may notice swelling of your feet, ankles, fingers, and/or face. […] People with hepatitis C can experience periodic flu-like syndromes. These episodes usually last a few days, rarely more than a week. The most common symptoms are fever, chills, headache, fatigue, and/or muscle aches. […] Jaundice is a yellowish discoloration of the skin and/or the whites of the eyes. It is caused by a yellow substance in the blood called bilirubin. […] Cognitive Changes: Some people with hepatitis C notice changes in their cognitive ability. This can take several different forms. You may find you cannot concentrate for long periods of time, or may notice your thought processes seem slower than usual.
- #38 Hep C Facts | Testing, Treatment & Prevention | Hepatitis NSWhttps://www.hep.org.au/hep-c/
- #39https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hepatitis-c/symptoms/
The symptoms of long-term (chronic) hepatitis C can vary widely. In some people, symptoms may be barely noticeable. In others, they can have a significant impact on their quality of life. […] Some of the most common problems experienced by people with chronic hepatitis C include: feeling tired all the time, joint and muscle aches and pain, feeling sick, problems with short-term memory, concentration and completing complex mental tasks such as mental arithmetic many people describe this as „brain fog”, mood swings, depression or anxiety, indigestion or bloating, itchy skin, abdominal pain. […] If left untreated, the infection can eventually cause the liver to become scarred (cirrhosis). Signs of cirrhosis can include jaundice, vomiting blood, dark poo, and a build-up of fluid in the legs or abdomen.
- #40 Hepatitis C: thousands of people are undiagnosed â hereâs what you need to know about the virushttps://theconversation.com/hepatitis-c-thousands-of-people-are-undiagnosed-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-virus-230456
Those with long term hepatitis C infection may not suffer with any symptoms and be completely unaware they have the virus. However, vague symptoms such as fatigue, muscle aches and brain fog are commonly reported. […] People with long-term hepatitis C infection may also experience mood changes, depression and anxiety. Only when the liver starts to fail do symptoms become noticeable, including jaundice, swelling with fluid, confusion and vomiting blood.
- #41https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hepatitis-c/symptoms/
The symptoms of long-term (chronic) hepatitis C can vary widely. In some people, symptoms may be barely noticeable. In others, they can have a significant impact on their quality of life. […] Some of the most common problems experienced by people with chronic hepatitis C include: feeling tired all the time, joint and muscle aches and pain, feeling sick, problems with short-term memory, concentration and completing complex mental tasks such as mental arithmetic many people describe this as „brain fog”, mood swings, depression or anxiety, indigestion or bloating, itchy skin, abdominal pain. […] If left untreated, the infection can eventually cause the liver to become scarred (cirrhosis). Signs of cirrhosis can include jaundice, vomiting blood, dark poo, and a build-up of fluid in the legs or abdomen.
- #42 Hepatitis C â Symptoms & Treatments | MedStar Healthhttps://www.medstarhealth.org/services/hepatitis-c
Many people who have chronic hepatitis C do not experience symptoms. Often, infection is discovered only when they are screened for HCV with blood tests, their liver function is compromised, or they begin to show signs of liver disease. […] The most common signs of hep C include: Fatigue, Nausea, Loss of appetite, Abdominal pain, Itching, skin rash. […] Liver disease can begin even before you notice signs of the virus, so its important to get screened if you think you may have been exposed. Additionally, even if you dont have any HCV symptoms, you can still pass the virus to others. […] Left untreated, the virus can cause serious liver damage, including scarring (cirrhosis) or liver cancer.
- #43 Signs Symptoms | Caring Ambassadorshttps://caringambassadors.org/hepatitis-c/signs-symptoms/
Many people with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) experience fevers from time to time. The fevers are usually low, typically less than 101 degrees Fahrenheit. […] Fluid retention occurs when your body holds on to more water than it needs. The extra water leaks into the tissues. You may notice swelling of your feet, ankles, fingers, and/or face. […] People with hepatitis C can experience periodic flu-like syndromes. These episodes usually last a few days, rarely more than a week. The most common symptoms are fever, chills, headache, fatigue, and/or muscle aches. […] Jaundice is a yellowish discoloration of the skin and/or the whites of the eyes. It is caused by a yellow substance in the blood called bilirubin. […] Cognitive Changes: Some people with hepatitis C notice changes in their cognitive ability. This can take several different forms. You may find you cannot concentrate for long periods of time, or may notice your thought processes seem slower than usual.
- #44 Hepatitis C: What happens in end-stage liver disease?https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-c/expert-answers/hepatitis-c/faq-20058533
End-stage hepatitis C means the liver has been severely damaged by the hepatitis C virus. The hepatitis C virus slowly damages the liver over many years, often progressing from inflammation to permanent, irreversible scarring (cirrhosis). Often, people have no signs or symptoms of liver disease or have only mild symptoms for years or even decades until they develop cirrhosis. […] Symptoms of end-stage liver disease may include: Easy bleeding or bruising, Persistent or recurring yellowing of your skin and eyes (jaundice), Intense itching, Abdominal pain, Loss of appetite, Nausea, Swelling due to fluid buildup in your abdomen and legs, Problems with concentration and memory. […] Cirrhosis usually progresses to the point where the liver loses most or all of its function liver failure. In addition, people with cirrhosis may develop: Bleeding of the digestive (gastrointestinal) tract due to enlarged veins in the tube that connects the throat and stomach (esophagus), a condition known as esophageal varices, Brain and nervous system damage due to the buildup of toxins in the bloodstream (hepatic encephalopathy). […] Cirrhosis also increases your risk of liver cancer.
- #45https://www.hepatitisaustralia.com/symptoms-of-hepatitis-c
Hepatitis C can change how your skin looks and feels. These changes can come and go. […] People with hepatitis C are more likely to have type 2 diabetes than the general public. […] Some people with hepatitis C get jaundice. This is when you get yellow eyes and skin. This is more likely during the first 6 months. You can also get jaundice if you have severe liver scarring (cirrhosis). […] Sometimes a person with hepatitis C can keep feeling well while their liver becomes more damaged. Other times, the signs of hepatitis C can make it hard to know if there are other health problems. The signs of hepatitis C don’t always get worse. Sometimes you might have many signs at once.
- #46 Hepatitis C | HCV | MedlinePlushttps://medlineplus.gov/hepatitisc.html
Hepatitis C can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness. […] Acute hepatitis C is a short-term infection. The symptoms can last up to 6 months. Sometimes your body is able to fight off the infection and the virus goes away. But for most people, an acute infection leads to chronic infection. […] Chronic hepatitis C is a long-lasting infection. If it is not treated, it can last for a lifetime and cause serious health problems, including liver damage, cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver cancer, and even death. […] Most people with hepatitis C have no symptoms. Some people with acute hepatitis C do have symptoms within 1 to 3 months after they are exposed to the virus. These symptoms may include: Dark yellow urine, Fatigue, Fever, Gray- or clay-colored stools, Joint pain, Loss of appetite, Nausea and/or vomiting, Pain in your abdomen (belly), Jaundice (yellowish eyes and skin).
- #47 Hepatitis C | HCV | MedlinePlushttps://medlineplus.gov/hepatitisc.html
Hepatitis C can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness. […] Acute hepatitis C is a short-term infection. The symptoms can last up to 6 months. Sometimes your body is able to fight off the infection and the virus goes away. But for most people, an acute infection leads to chronic infection. […] Chronic hepatitis C is a long-lasting infection. If it is not treated, it can last for a lifetime and cause serious health problems, including liver damage, cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver cancer, and even death. […] Most people with hepatitis C have no symptoms. Some people with acute hepatitis C do have symptoms within 1 to 3 months after they are exposed to the virus. These symptoms may include: Dark yellow urine, Fatigue, Fever, Gray- or clay-colored stools, Joint pain, Loss of appetite, Nausea and/or vomiting, Pain in your abdomen (belly), Jaundice (yellowish eyes and skin).
- #48 Hepatitis C, Chronic – Liver and Gallbladder Disorders – Merck Manual Consumer Versionhttps://www.merckmanuals.com/home/liver-and-gallbladder-disorders/hepatitis/hepatitis-c-chronic
Chronic hepatitis C is inflammation of the liver that is caused by the hepatitis C virus and that has lasted more than 6 months. […] Hepatitis C often causes no symptoms until after it has badly damaged the liver. […] Many people with chronic hepatitis C have no symptoms. Some have a feeling of being generally ill (malaise), loss of appetite, fatigue, and vague abdominal discomfort. […] Often, the first specific symptoms are those of cirrhosis or complications of cirrhosis. These symptoms can include an enlarged spleen, small spiderlike blood vessels visible in the skin (called spider angiomas), redness of the palms, accumulation of fluid within the abdomen (ascites), a tendency to bleed (coagulopathy), bleeding in the digestive tract due to esophageal varices, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes), and deterioration of brain function due to malfunction of the liver (hepatic encephalopathy). […] Chronic hepatitis C, if untreated, causes cirrhosis in about 20 to 30% of people. However, cirrhosis may take decades to develop. The risk of liver cancer is increased usually only if cirrhosis is present.
- #49 Hepatitis C testing could save a life – Mayo Clinic Health Systemhttps://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/hepatitis-c-testing-could-save-your-life
Testing for hepatitis C, which involves a basic blood draw and analysis, can be the difference between serious health complications later in life or a manageable condition that is curable in most cases when it’s treated. […] Hepatitis C is a viral infection that targets the liver, leading to inflammation and scarring if untreated. Of the several hepatitis viruses, hepatitis C is one of the most severe forms. […] Many people with hepatitis C don’t know they are infected. Symptoms typically don’t appear until years later in the course of chronic infection. […] Signs of chronic infection include: Bleeding easily, Bruising easily, Itchy skin, Fluid accumulation in your abdomen, Swelling in the legs, Weight loss, Confusion, drowsiness and slurred speech, Spiderlike blood vessels on your skin.
- #50 Signs Symptoms | Caring Ambassadorshttps://caringambassadors.org/hepatitis-c/signs-symptoms/
Many people with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) experience fevers from time to time. The fevers are usually low, typically less than 101 degrees Fahrenheit. […] Fluid retention occurs when your body holds on to more water than it needs. The extra water leaks into the tissues. You may notice swelling of your feet, ankles, fingers, and/or face. […] People with hepatitis C can experience periodic flu-like syndromes. These episodes usually last a few days, rarely more than a week. The most common symptoms are fever, chills, headache, fatigue, and/or muscle aches. […] Jaundice is a yellowish discoloration of the skin and/or the whites of the eyes. It is caused by a yellow substance in the blood called bilirubin. […] Cognitive Changes: Some people with hepatitis C notice changes in their cognitive ability. This can take several different forms. You may find you cannot concentrate for long periods of time, or may notice your thought processes seem slower than usual.
- #51 Hepatitis C | Mass.govhttps://www.mass.gov/info-details/hepatitis-c
Hepatitis C is an infection caused by the hepatitis C virus. While some people will clear (get rid of) the virus without treatment, most people who get the infection will develop chronic (long-term) infection and can pass it on to others. Some of these people will feel very sick and may develop liver damage such as cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) or liver cancer. Others with chronic infection can remain healthy for many years without symptoms, or might develop symptoms or complications slowly. Some people infected decades ago may not know it. There is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C infection, but it can be cured once someone is infected. […] Many adults with hepatitis C have few or no symptoms. When symptoms occur, they can include tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, and muscle or joint pain. Hepatitis C can also cause jaundice (which shows up as yellowing of the skin and eyes and dark urine) and clay or gray colored stools. Years later, cirrhosis may occur in some who are infected, when scar tissue replaces healthy liver cells.
- #52 NATURAL HISTORY OF HEPATITIS Chttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5939344/
Hepatitis C infection is a common cause of cirrhosis and indication for liver transplantation in the United States. […] The outcome of chronic hepatitis C is variable. It is estimated that 20-25% will develop cirrhosis over a 25-30 year period. […] Approximately 20-30% of persons with chronic hepatitis will progress to cirrhosis over a 25-30 year period. […] Once cirrhosis develops patients are at risk for hepatic decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma and liver-related death. […] The development of cirrhosis is an important milestone in the natural history of chronic hepatitis C. […] Once decompensation develops, there is an increased risk of death or need for liver transplant. […] Insulin resistance and diabetes are associated with faster progression fibrosis, increased risk of cirrhosis and its complications including HCC and lower response to therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
- #53 Hepatitis C Stages: Acute, Chronic, End, and Morehttps://www.healthline.com/health/hepatitis-c/stages-progression
When permanent scar tissue replaces healthy liver cells, and your liver loses the ability to function, it’s called cirrhosis. […] In this condition, your liver can no longer heal itself. This can cause fluid to build up in your abdomen and the veins in your esophagus to bleed. […] Chronic hepatitis C can cause serious long-term health consequences when it leads to liver scarring. End-stage hepatitis C occurs when the liver is severely damaged and can no longer function properly. […] Symptoms may include fatigue, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal swelling, yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), and muddled thinking. […] People with cirrhosis may also experience bleeding in the esophagus, as well as brain and nervous system damage. […] If you suspect that you have hepatitis C, consult with a healthcare professional as soon as possible. Early detection and treatment are the best ways to prevent and treat any serious complications or progression.
- #54 NATURAL HISTORY OF HEPATITIS Chttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5939344/
Hepatitis C infection is a common cause of cirrhosis and indication for liver transplantation in the United States. […] The outcome of chronic hepatitis C is variable. It is estimated that 20-25% will develop cirrhosis over a 25-30 year period. […] Approximately 20-30% of persons with chronic hepatitis will progress to cirrhosis over a 25-30 year period. […] Once cirrhosis develops patients are at risk for hepatic decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma and liver-related death. […] The development of cirrhosis is an important milestone in the natural history of chronic hepatitis C. […] Once decompensation develops, there is an increased risk of death or need for liver transplant. […] Insulin resistance and diabetes are associated with faster progression fibrosis, increased risk of cirrhosis and its complications including HCC and lower response to therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
- #55 Hepatitis C | Better Health Channelhttps://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/hepatitis-c
Over time, symptoms that may develop include: tiredness and fatigue, flu-like symptoms (chills and fevers), pain in the abdomen where the liver is located, not feeling hungry (nausea) and indigestion. […] Symptoms of chronic hepatitis C can include: mild to severe tiredness, loss of appetite, feeling sick (nausea) and vomiting, soreness in the upper right side of the stomach (under the ribs), fever, increased moodiness and depression, joint pain or swelling, skin rash. […] Often chronic hepatitis C does not cause significant health problems until many years after infection. In many cases, people who have chronic hepatitis C do not feel ill. […] About 15 to 20% of people who have untreated chronic hepatitis C will develop severe scarring of the liver (cirrhosis). This may take 20 to 40 years, or more, to develop. A small number of people with cirrhosis may then develop liver cancer.
- #56 NATURAL HISTORY OF HEPATITIS Chttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5939344/
The most common symptoms of acute hepatitis C include jaundice, nausea, abdominal pain and flu-like symptoms. […] Chronic hepatitis C can subsequently lead to progressive fibrosis and eventually cirrhosis, end stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. […] The rate of clinical decompensation is approximately 25% per year and the development of HCC 14% per year. […] It is estimated that 20-30% patients with chronic hepatitis C will progress to cirrhosis. […] The natural history study of chronic hepatitis C is greatly influenced by host, viral and environmental factors most of which are not modifiable.
- #57 NATURAL HISTORY OF HEPATITIS Chttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5939344/
Hepatitis C infection is a common cause of cirrhosis and indication for liver transplantation in the United States. […] The outcome of chronic hepatitis C is variable. It is estimated that 20-25% will develop cirrhosis over a 25-30 year period. […] Approximately 20-30% of persons with chronic hepatitis will progress to cirrhosis over a 25-30 year period. […] Once cirrhosis develops patients are at risk for hepatic decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma and liver-related death. […] The development of cirrhosis is an important milestone in the natural history of chronic hepatitis C. […] Once decompensation develops, there is an increased risk of death or need for liver transplant. […] Insulin resistance and diabetes are associated with faster progression fibrosis, increased risk of cirrhosis and its complications including HCC and lower response to therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
- #58 NATURAL HISTORY OF HEPATITIS Chttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5939344/
The most common symptoms of acute hepatitis C include jaundice, nausea, abdominal pain and flu-like symptoms. […] Chronic hepatitis C can subsequently lead to progressive fibrosis and eventually cirrhosis, end stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. […] The rate of clinical decompensation is approximately 25% per year and the development of HCC 14% per year. […] It is estimated that 20-30% patients with chronic hepatitis C will progress to cirrhosis. […] The natural history study of chronic hepatitis C is greatly influenced by host, viral and environmental factors most of which are not modifiable.
- #59 Hepatitis C: What happens in end-stage liver disease?https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-c/expert-answers/hepatitis-c/faq-20058533
End-stage hepatitis C means the liver has been severely damaged by the hepatitis C virus. The hepatitis C virus slowly damages the liver over many years, often progressing from inflammation to permanent, irreversible scarring (cirrhosis). Often, people have no signs or symptoms of liver disease or have only mild symptoms for years or even decades until they develop cirrhosis. […] Symptoms of end-stage liver disease may include: Easy bleeding or bruising, Persistent or recurring yellowing of your skin and eyes (jaundice), Intense itching, Abdominal pain, Loss of appetite, Nausea, Swelling due to fluid buildup in your abdomen and legs, Problems with concentration and memory. […] Cirrhosis usually progresses to the point where the liver loses most or all of its function liver failure. In addition, people with cirrhosis may develop: Bleeding of the digestive (gastrointestinal) tract due to enlarged veins in the tube that connects the throat and stomach (esophagus), a condition known as esophageal varices, Brain and nervous system damage due to the buildup of toxins in the bloodstream (hepatic encephalopathy). […] Cirrhosis also increases your risk of liver cancer.
- #60 Hepatitis C: What happens in end-stage liver disease?https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-c/expert-answers/hepatitis-c/faq-20058533
End-stage hepatitis C means the liver has been severely damaged by the hepatitis C virus. The hepatitis C virus slowly damages the liver over many years, often progressing from inflammation to permanent, irreversible scarring (cirrhosis). Often, people have no signs or symptoms of liver disease or have only mild symptoms for years or even decades until they develop cirrhosis. […] Symptoms of end-stage liver disease may include: Easy bleeding or bruising, Persistent or recurring yellowing of your skin and eyes (jaundice), Intense itching, Abdominal pain, Loss of appetite, Nausea, Swelling due to fluid buildup in your abdomen and legs, Problems with concentration and memory. […] Cirrhosis usually progresses to the point where the liver loses most or all of its function liver failure. In addition, people with cirrhosis may develop: Bleeding of the digestive (gastrointestinal) tract due to enlarged veins in the tube that connects the throat and stomach (esophagus), a condition known as esophageal varices, Brain and nervous system damage due to the buildup of toxins in the bloodstream (hepatic encephalopathy). […] Cirrhosis also increases your risk of liver cancer.
- #61 Hepatitis C Progression – Hephttps://www.hepmag.com/basics/liver-health/hepatitis-c-progression
Symptoms of advanced cirrhosis may include a bloated belly from fluid buildup (ascites), bleeding from enlarged blood vessels in the esophagus and stomach (varices) and cognitive impairmentand even comadue to buildup of toxins in the brain (hepatic encephalopathy). […] It typically takes around 20 to 30 years for a person with hepatitis C to develop advanced cirrhosis, but several factors can accelerate its progression, including older age, obesity, heavy alcohol use and compromised immunity. […] Although cirrhosis is not always life-threatening, between 1% and 5% of people with untreated chronic hepatitis C will die from liver cancer or liver failure. Effective antiviral treatment can slow or halt liver disease progression, but it does not always fully reverse existing damage, especially if a person has already developed cirrhosis.
- #62 Hepatitis C Progression – Hephttps://www.hepmag.com/basics/liver-health/hepatitis-c-progression
Symptoms of advanced cirrhosis may include a bloated belly from fluid buildup (ascites), bleeding from enlarged blood vessels in the esophagus and stomach (varices) and cognitive impairmentand even comadue to buildup of toxins in the brain (hepatic encephalopathy). […] It typically takes around 20 to 30 years for a person with hepatitis C to develop advanced cirrhosis, but several factors can accelerate its progression, including older age, obesity, heavy alcohol use and compromised immunity. […] Although cirrhosis is not always life-threatening, between 1% and 5% of people with untreated chronic hepatitis C will die from liver cancer or liver failure. Effective antiviral treatment can slow or halt liver disease progression, but it does not always fully reverse existing damage, especially if a person has already developed cirrhosis.
- #63 Hepatitis C: What happens in end-stage liver disease?https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-c/expert-answers/hepatitis-c/faq-20058533
End-stage hepatitis C means the liver has been severely damaged by the hepatitis C virus. The hepatitis C virus slowly damages the liver over many years, often progressing from inflammation to permanent, irreversible scarring (cirrhosis). Often, people have no signs or symptoms of liver disease or have only mild symptoms for years or even decades until they develop cirrhosis. […] Symptoms of end-stage liver disease may include: Easy bleeding or bruising, Persistent or recurring yellowing of your skin and eyes (jaundice), Intense itching, Abdominal pain, Loss of appetite, Nausea, Swelling due to fluid buildup in your abdomen and legs, Problems with concentration and memory. […] Cirrhosis usually progresses to the point where the liver loses most or all of its function liver failure. In addition, people with cirrhosis may develop: Bleeding of the digestive (gastrointestinal) tract due to enlarged veins in the tube that connects the throat and stomach (esophagus), a condition known as esophageal varices, Brain and nervous system damage due to the buildup of toxins in the bloodstream (hepatic encephalopathy). […] Cirrhosis also increases your risk of liver cancer.
- #64 Hepatitis C – Advanced Gastroenterologyhttps://advancedgastroonline.com/conditions-and-diseases/hepatitis-c/
Hepatitis C is a viral infection that is typically transmitted person-to-person after coming in contact with contaminated blood, and if left untreated, can lead to liver disease or kidney diseases. […] Many of those who have hepatitis C do not have any noticeable symptoms until the virus begins to harm the liver. Hepatitis C causes liver inflammation, which can lead to liver damage, liver failure, and even liver cancer if the patient doesnât receive hepatitis C treatment. […] Chronic hepatitis C infection is known as a âsilentâ infection, as a patient doesnât become symptomatic until there has already been a good deal of damage done to the liver. Thus, many symptoms of hepatitis C are also shared with other causes of liver disease. Signs and symptoms of hepatitis C include: Easy bruising, Fatigue, Dark urine, Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), Easy bleeding, Ascites (fluid buildup in the abdomen), Unintended weight loss, Loss of appetite, Itchy skin, Spider angiomas (spider-like blood vessels on the skin), Hepatic encephalopathy, which causes fatigue, slurred speech, and confusion. […] Itâs important to realize every case of chronic hepatitis C stemmed from an acute one. However, acute cases of hepatitis C rarely show symptoms either, so the patient wouldnât know they were infected. Not all acute cases of hepatitis C become lifelong and chronic, however, in most cases they do.
- #65 Hepatitis C | Health & Senior Serviceshttp://www.health.mo.gov/hepatitisc
Hepatitis C attacks the liver but can remain without symptoms for decades. Approximately 70%-80% of people with acute Hepatitis C do not have any symptoms. Some people, however, can have mild to severe symptoms that occur from two weeks to six months after being infected, including: Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and/or eyes), Abdominal pain, Fatigue, Loss of appetite, Unexplained weight loss, Nausea and vomiting, Low-grade fever, Pale or clay colored stools, Dark urine, Skin rash. […] HCV related Chronic Liver Disease (CLD) is the leading indication for liver transplant among adults in the United States.
- #66 Hepatitis C: What happens in end-stage liver disease?https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-c/expert-answers/hepatitis-c/faq-20058533
End-stage hepatitis C means the liver has been severely damaged by the hepatitis C virus. The hepatitis C virus slowly damages the liver over many years, often progressing from inflammation to permanent, irreversible scarring (cirrhosis). Often, people have no signs or symptoms of liver disease or have only mild symptoms for years or even decades until they develop cirrhosis. […] Symptoms of end-stage liver disease may include: Easy bleeding or bruising, Persistent or recurring yellowing of your skin and eyes (jaundice), Intense itching, Abdominal pain, Loss of appetite, Nausea, Swelling due to fluid buildup in your abdomen and legs, Problems with concentration and memory. […] Cirrhosis usually progresses to the point where the liver loses most or all of its function liver failure. In addition, people with cirrhosis may develop: Bleeding of the digestive (gastrointestinal) tract due to enlarged veins in the tube that connects the throat and stomach (esophagus), a condition known as esophageal varices, Brain and nervous system damage due to the buildup of toxins in the bloodstream (hepatic encephalopathy). […] Cirrhosis also increases your risk of liver cancer.
- #67 NATURAL HISTORY OF HEPATITIS Chttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5939344/
The most common symptoms of acute hepatitis C include jaundice, nausea, abdominal pain and flu-like symptoms. […] Chronic hepatitis C can subsequently lead to progressive fibrosis and eventually cirrhosis, end stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. […] The rate of clinical decompensation is approximately 25% per year and the development of HCC 14% per year. […] It is estimated that 20-30% patients with chronic hepatitis C will progress to cirrhosis. […] The natural history study of chronic hepatitis C is greatly influenced by host, viral and environmental factors most of which are not modifiable.
- #68 Hepatitis C, Chronic – Liver and Gallbladder Disorders – Merck Manual Consumer Versionhttps://www.merckmanuals.com/home/liver-and-gallbladder-disorders/hepatitis/hepatitis-c-chronic
Chronic hepatitis C is inflammation of the liver that is caused by the hepatitis C virus and that has lasted more than 6 months. […] Hepatitis C often causes no symptoms until after it has badly damaged the liver. […] Many people with chronic hepatitis C have no symptoms. Some have a feeling of being generally ill (malaise), loss of appetite, fatigue, and vague abdominal discomfort. […] Often, the first specific symptoms are those of cirrhosis or complications of cirrhosis. These symptoms can include an enlarged spleen, small spiderlike blood vessels visible in the skin (called spider angiomas), redness of the palms, accumulation of fluid within the abdomen (ascites), a tendency to bleed (coagulopathy), bleeding in the digestive tract due to esophageal varices, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes), and deterioration of brain function due to malfunction of the liver (hepatic encephalopathy). […] Chronic hepatitis C, if untreated, causes cirrhosis in about 20 to 30% of people. However, cirrhosis may take decades to develop. The risk of liver cancer is increased usually only if cirrhosis is present.
- #69 End stage hepatitis C symptoms: Treatment, palliative care, and morehttps://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/hep-c-death-symptoms
End stage hepatitis C occurs when the infection has progressed to such a degree that it has damaged the liver irreversibly. Symptoms at this stage may include jaundice and abdominal swelling. […] Symptoms of end stage hepatitis C can include: jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and eyes; abdominal swelling; fluid retention; edema or swelling in the legs; internal bleeding; hepatic encephalopathy a decline in brain function due to a buildup of toxins in the blood; fever; bruising; abdominal pain; loss of appetite; nausea and vomiting; coma. […] In end stage hepatitis C, the infection has progressed far enough to cause severe, irreversible liver damage. […] In end stage hepatitis C, cirrhosis and chronic liver failure occur. At this stage, treatment cannot reverse liver damage, and the organ can no longer function effectively. Each year, about 1 in 20 people with hepatitis-associated cirrhosis experience liver failure.
- #70 End stage hepatitis C symptoms: Treatment, palliative care, and morehttps://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/hep-c-death-symptoms
End stage hepatitis C occurs when the infection has progressed to such a degree that it has damaged the liver irreversibly. Symptoms at this stage may include jaundice and abdominal swelling. […] Symptoms of end stage hepatitis C can include: jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and eyes; abdominal swelling; fluid retention; edema or swelling in the legs; internal bleeding; hepatic encephalopathy a decline in brain function due to a buildup of toxins in the blood; fever; bruising; abdominal pain; loss of appetite; nausea and vomiting; coma. […] In end stage hepatitis C, the infection has progressed far enough to cause severe, irreversible liver damage. […] In end stage hepatitis C, cirrhosis and chronic liver failure occur. At this stage, treatment cannot reverse liver damage, and the organ can no longer function effectively. Each year, about 1 in 20 people with hepatitis-associated cirrhosis experience liver failure.
- #71 End stage hepatitis C symptoms: Treatment, palliative care, and morehttps://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/hep-c-death-symptoms
End stage hepatitis C occurs when the infection has progressed to such a degree that it has damaged the liver irreversibly. Symptoms at this stage may include jaundice and abdominal swelling. […] Symptoms of end stage hepatitis C can include: jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and eyes; abdominal swelling; fluid retention; edema or swelling in the legs; internal bleeding; hepatic encephalopathy a decline in brain function due to a buildup of toxins in the blood; fever; bruising; abdominal pain; loss of appetite; nausea and vomiting; coma. […] In end stage hepatitis C, the infection has progressed far enough to cause severe, irreversible liver damage. […] In end stage hepatitis C, cirrhosis and chronic liver failure occur. At this stage, treatment cannot reverse liver damage, and the organ can no longer function effectively. Each year, about 1 in 20 people with hepatitis-associated cirrhosis experience liver failure.
- #72 Hepatitis C: What happens in end-stage liver disease?https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-c/expert-answers/hepatitis-c/faq-20058533
End-stage hepatitis C means the liver has been severely damaged by the hepatitis C virus. The hepatitis C virus slowly damages the liver over many years, often progressing from inflammation to permanent, irreversible scarring (cirrhosis). Often, people have no signs or symptoms of liver disease or have only mild symptoms for years or even decades until they develop cirrhosis. […] Symptoms of end-stage liver disease may include: Easy bleeding or bruising, Persistent or recurring yellowing of your skin and eyes (jaundice), Intense itching, Abdominal pain, Loss of appetite, Nausea, Swelling due to fluid buildup in your abdomen and legs, Problems with concentration and memory. […] Cirrhosis usually progresses to the point where the liver loses most or all of its function liver failure. In addition, people with cirrhosis may develop: Bleeding of the digestive (gastrointestinal) tract due to enlarged veins in the tube that connects the throat and stomach (esophagus), a condition known as esophageal varices, Brain and nervous system damage due to the buildup of toxins in the bloodstream (hepatic encephalopathy). […] Cirrhosis also increases your risk of liver cancer.
- #73 End stage hepatitis C symptoms: Treatment, palliative care, and morehttps://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/hep-c-death-symptoms
End stage hepatitis C occurs when the infection has progressed to such a degree that it has damaged the liver irreversibly. Symptoms at this stage may include jaundice and abdominal swelling. […] Symptoms of end stage hepatitis C can include: jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and eyes; abdominal swelling; fluid retention; edema or swelling in the legs; internal bleeding; hepatic encephalopathy a decline in brain function due to a buildup of toxins in the blood; fever; bruising; abdominal pain; loss of appetite; nausea and vomiting; coma. […] In end stage hepatitis C, the infection has progressed far enough to cause severe, irreversible liver damage. […] In end stage hepatitis C, cirrhosis and chronic liver failure occur. At this stage, treatment cannot reverse liver damage, and the organ can no longer function effectively. Each year, about 1 in 20 people with hepatitis-associated cirrhosis experience liver failure.
- #74 End stage hepatitis C symptoms: Treatment, palliative care, and morehttps://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/hep-c-death-symptoms
End stage hepatitis C occurs when the infection has progressed to such a degree that it has damaged the liver irreversibly. Symptoms at this stage may include jaundice and abdominal swelling. […] Symptoms of end stage hepatitis C can include: jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and eyes; abdominal swelling; fluid retention; edema or swelling in the legs; internal bleeding; hepatic encephalopathy a decline in brain function due to a buildup of toxins in the blood; fever; bruising; abdominal pain; loss of appetite; nausea and vomiting; coma. […] In end stage hepatitis C, the infection has progressed far enough to cause severe, irreversible liver damage. […] In end stage hepatitis C, cirrhosis and chronic liver failure occur. At this stage, treatment cannot reverse liver damage, and the organ can no longer function effectively. Each year, about 1 in 20 people with hepatitis-associated cirrhosis experience liver failure.
- #75 End stage hepatitis C symptoms: Treatment, palliative care, and morehttps://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/hep-c-death-symptoms
End stage hepatitis C occurs when the infection has progressed to such a degree that it has damaged the liver irreversibly. Symptoms at this stage may include jaundice and abdominal swelling. […] Symptoms of end stage hepatitis C can include: jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and eyes; abdominal swelling; fluid retention; edema or swelling in the legs; internal bleeding; hepatic encephalopathy a decline in brain function due to a buildup of toxins in the blood; fever; bruising; abdominal pain; loss of appetite; nausea and vomiting; coma. […] In end stage hepatitis C, the infection has progressed far enough to cause severe, irreversible liver damage. […] In end stage hepatitis C, cirrhosis and chronic liver failure occur. At this stage, treatment cannot reverse liver damage, and the organ can no longer function effectively. Each year, about 1 in 20 people with hepatitis-associated cirrhosis experience liver failure.
- #76 End stage hepatitis C symptoms: Treatment, palliative care, and morehttps://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/hep-c-death-symptoms
End stage hepatitis C occurs when the infection has progressed to such a degree that it has damaged the liver irreversibly. Symptoms at this stage may include jaundice and abdominal swelling. […] Symptoms of end stage hepatitis C can include: jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and eyes; abdominal swelling; fluid retention; edema or swelling in the legs; internal bleeding; hepatic encephalopathy a decline in brain function due to a buildup of toxins in the blood; fever; bruising; abdominal pain; loss of appetite; nausea and vomiting; coma. […] In end stage hepatitis C, the infection has progressed far enough to cause severe, irreversible liver damage. […] In end stage hepatitis C, cirrhosis and chronic liver failure occur. At this stage, treatment cannot reverse liver damage, and the organ can no longer function effectively. Each year, about 1 in 20 people with hepatitis-associated cirrhosis experience liver failure.
- #77 End stage hepatitis C symptoms: Treatment, palliative care, and morehttps://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/hep-c-death-symptoms
End stage hepatitis C occurs when the infection has progressed to such a degree that it has damaged the liver irreversibly. Symptoms at this stage may include jaundice and abdominal swelling. […] Symptoms of end stage hepatitis C can include: jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and eyes; abdominal swelling; fluid retention; edema or swelling in the legs; internal bleeding; hepatic encephalopathy a decline in brain function due to a buildup of toxins in the blood; fever; bruising; abdominal pain; loss of appetite; nausea and vomiting; coma. […] In end stage hepatitis C, the infection has progressed far enough to cause severe, irreversible liver damage. […] In end stage hepatitis C, cirrhosis and chronic liver failure occur. At this stage, treatment cannot reverse liver damage, and the organ can no longer function effectively. Each year, about 1 in 20 people with hepatitis-associated cirrhosis experience liver failure.
- #78 End stage hepatitis C symptoms: Treatment, palliative care, and morehttps://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/hep-c-death-symptoms
End stage hepatitis C occurs when the infection has progressed to such a degree that it has damaged the liver irreversibly. Symptoms at this stage may include jaundice and abdominal swelling. […] Symptoms of end stage hepatitis C can include: jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and eyes; abdominal swelling; fluid retention; edema or swelling in the legs; internal bleeding; hepatic encephalopathy a decline in brain function due to a buildup of toxins in the blood; fever; bruising; abdominal pain; loss of appetite; nausea and vomiting; coma. […] In end stage hepatitis C, the infection has progressed far enough to cause severe, irreversible liver damage. […] In end stage hepatitis C, cirrhosis and chronic liver failure occur. At this stage, treatment cannot reverse liver damage, and the organ can no longer function effectively. Each year, about 1 in 20 people with hepatitis-associated cirrhosis experience liver failure.
- #79 End stage hepatitis C symptoms: Treatment, palliative care, and morehttps://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/hep-c-death-symptoms
End stage hepatitis C occurs when the infection has progressed to such a degree that it has damaged the liver irreversibly. Symptoms at this stage may include jaundice and abdominal swelling. […] Symptoms of end stage hepatitis C can include: jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and eyes; abdominal swelling; fluid retention; edema or swelling in the legs; internal bleeding; hepatic encephalopathy a decline in brain function due to a buildup of toxins in the blood; fever; bruising; abdominal pain; loss of appetite; nausea and vomiting; coma. […] In end stage hepatitis C, the infection has progressed far enough to cause severe, irreversible liver damage. […] In end stage hepatitis C, cirrhosis and chronic liver failure occur. At this stage, treatment cannot reverse liver damage, and the organ can no longer function effectively. Each year, about 1 in 20 people with hepatitis-associated cirrhosis experience liver failure.
- #80 End stage hepatitis C symptoms: Treatment, palliative care, and morehttps://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/hep-c-death-symptoms
End stage hepatitis C occurs when the infection has progressed to such a degree that it has damaged the liver irreversibly. Symptoms at this stage may include jaundice and abdominal swelling. […] Symptoms of end stage hepatitis C can include: jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and eyes; abdominal swelling; fluid retention; edema or swelling in the legs; internal bleeding; hepatic encephalopathy a decline in brain function due to a buildup of toxins in the blood; fever; bruising; abdominal pain; loss of appetite; nausea and vomiting; coma. […] In end stage hepatitis C, the infection has progressed far enough to cause severe, irreversible liver damage. […] In end stage hepatitis C, cirrhosis and chronic liver failure occur. At this stage, treatment cannot reverse liver damage, and the organ can no longer function effectively. Each year, about 1 in 20 people with hepatitis-associated cirrhosis experience liver failure.
- #81 Hepatitis C: Diagnosis and Management | AAFPhttps://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2021/1200/p626.html
Approximately 20% to 30% of patients with chronic HCV develop cirrhosis over 25 to 30 years. […] Patients with cirrhosis are at greater risk of developing HCC (1% to 4% per year) and hepatocellular decompensation (2% to 5% per year) manifested by ascites, encephalopathy, jaundice, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, or variceal hemorrhage. […] Up to 74% of patients develop an extrahepatic manifestation, several of which can negatively impact quality of life. […] The fourfold increase of diabetes mellitus contributes to accelerated liver fibrosis and an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease.
- #82 Clinical manifestations and natural history of chronic hepatitis C virus infection – UpToDatehttps://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-manifestations-and-natural-history-of-chronic-hepatitis-c-virus-infection/print
Patients with chronic HCV infection often have a high symptom burden, but the extent to which HCV infection itself, rather than comorbid conditions, contributes to the symptoms is unclear. The most frequent complaints are fatigue and sleep disturbances; other symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, anorexia, myalgia, arthralgia, weakness, and weight loss. Neuropsychiatric symptoms (eg, depression and anxiety) are also common. […] However, the symptoms of chronic HCV infection are not necessarily specific to the infection itself. In one study of 100 patients with chronic HCV infection without cirrhosis, fatigue was the most common self-reported complaint, but it occurred with similar frequency among 100 healthy blood donor controls without HCV infection (62 versus 70 percent in controls). Abdominal pain, itching, and dark urine were the only complaints that were more common among the HCV-infected patients, although they were present in only a small number of patients. In a subsequent study of 1600 patients with chronic HCV infection, although symptoms were highly prevalent and often severe, symptom burden was more strongly associated with demographic, socioeconomic, and psychiatric features than markers of liver inflammation or fibrosis.
- #83 Clinical manifestations and natural history of chronic hepatitis C virus infection – UpToDatehttps://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-manifestations-and-natural-history-of-chronic-hepatitis-c-virus-infection/print
Patients with chronic HCV infection often have a high symptom burden, but the extent to which HCV infection itself, rather than comorbid conditions, contributes to the symptoms is unclear. The most frequent complaints are fatigue and sleep disturbances; other symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, anorexia, myalgia, arthralgia, weakness, and weight loss. Neuropsychiatric symptoms (eg, depression and anxiety) are also common. […] However, the symptoms of chronic HCV infection are not necessarily specific to the infection itself. In one study of 100 patients with chronic HCV infection without cirrhosis, fatigue was the most common self-reported complaint, but it occurred with similar frequency among 100 healthy blood donor controls without HCV infection (62 versus 70 percent in controls). Abdominal pain, itching, and dark urine were the only complaints that were more common among the HCV-infected patients, although they were present in only a small number of patients. In a subsequent study of 1600 patients with chronic HCV infection, although symptoms were highly prevalent and often severe, symptom burden was more strongly associated with demographic, socioeconomic, and psychiatric features than markers of liver inflammation or fibrosis.
- #84 Hepatitis C: Diagnosis and Management | AAFPhttps://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2021/1200/p626.html
Approximately 20% to 30% of patients with chronic HCV develop cirrhosis over 25 to 30 years. […] Patients with cirrhosis are at greater risk of developing HCC (1% to 4% per year) and hepatocellular decompensation (2% to 5% per year) manifested by ascites, encephalopathy, jaundice, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, or variceal hemorrhage. […] Up to 74% of patients develop an extrahepatic manifestation, several of which can negatively impact quality of life. […] The fourfold increase of diabetes mellitus contributes to accelerated liver fibrosis and an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease.
- #85https://www.hepatitisaustralia.com/symptoms-of-hepatitis-c
Hepatitis C can change how your skin looks and feels. These changes can come and go. […] People with hepatitis C are more likely to have type 2 diabetes than the general public. […] Some people with hepatitis C get jaundice. This is when you get yellow eyes and skin. This is more likely during the first 6 months. You can also get jaundice if you have severe liver scarring (cirrhosis). […] Sometimes a person with hepatitis C can keep feeling well while their liver becomes more damaged. Other times, the signs of hepatitis C can make it hard to know if there are other health problems. The signs of hepatitis C don’t always get worse. Sometimes you might have many signs at once.
- #86 Signs and symptoms of hepatitis C infection | CATIE – Canada’s source for HIV and hepatitis C informationhttps://www.catie.ca/hepatitis-c-an-in-depth-guide/signs-and-symptoms-of-hepatitis-c-infection
Signs and symptoms of hepatitis C infection may include the following: Blisters (poryphyria cutanea tarda), Blotchy skin (cryoglobulinemia), Depression, Extreme confusion (hepatic encephalopathy), Extreme tiredness (fatigue), Flu-like symptoms, Fluid build-up (ascites or edema), Joint pain (arthralgia), Loss of appetite (anorexia), Low sex drive (loss of libido), Lowered platelet count (thrombocytopenia), Nausea, Problems with thinking („brain fog”), Purple or shiny itchy bumps (lichen planus), Rash or itchy skin (pruritis), Right upper side discomfort, Sleep problems, Stress (emotional strain or tension), Tingling or burning sensation (parasthesia or peripheral neuropathy), Vomiting blood (esophageal varices), Yellowing of the skin (jaundice).
- #87 Signs and symptoms of hepatitis C infection | CATIE – Canada’s source for HIV and hepatitis C informationhttps://www.catie.ca/hepatitis-c-an-in-depth-guide/signs-and-symptoms-of-hepatitis-c-infection
Signs and symptoms of hepatitis C infection may include the following: Blisters (poryphyria cutanea tarda), Blotchy skin (cryoglobulinemia), Depression, Extreme confusion (hepatic encephalopathy), Extreme tiredness (fatigue), Flu-like symptoms, Fluid build-up (ascites or edema), Joint pain (arthralgia), Loss of appetite (anorexia), Low sex drive (loss of libido), Lowered platelet count (thrombocytopenia), Nausea, Problems with thinking („brain fog”), Purple or shiny itchy bumps (lichen planus), Rash or itchy skin (pruritis), Right upper side discomfort, Sleep problems, Stress (emotional strain or tension), Tingling or burning sensation (parasthesia or peripheral neuropathy), Vomiting blood (esophageal varices), Yellowing of the skin (jaundice).
- #88 HCV & Rheumatic Diseasehttps://rheumatology.org/patients/hcv-and-rheumatic-disease
Chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the leading cause of liver failure and the need for liver transplant. […] People with HCV may have no symptoms and not know theyre infected. […] People with rheumatic diseases caused by HCV infection may first notice painful joints and muscles combined with fatigue. The virus constantly multiplies in the blood and liver, leading to a variety of rheumatic problems ranging from arthritis to cryoglobulinemia to kidney failure. […] Long-term follow-up care with a specialist for HCV infection is important, as liver disease may worsen over time and lead to liver failure or liver cancer.
- #89 HCV & Rheumatic Diseasehttps://rheumatology.org/patients/hcv-and-rheumatic-disease
Chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the leading cause of liver failure and the need for liver transplant. […] People with HCV may have no symptoms and not know theyre infected. […] People with rheumatic diseases caused by HCV infection may first notice painful joints and muscles combined with fatigue. The virus constantly multiplies in the blood and liver, leading to a variety of rheumatic problems ranging from arthritis to cryoglobulinemia to kidney failure. […] Long-term follow-up care with a specialist for HCV infection is important, as liver disease may worsen over time and lead to liver failure or liver cancer.
- #90 Symptoms of Hepatitis C in Womenhttps://www.verywellhealth.com/hepatitis-c-symptoms-in-females-4776511
Estrogen also appears to have a blunting effect on chronic HCV infection in females, meaning that the disease tends to progress much slower in women than in men. […] The same does not hold true for postmenopausal women in whom hepatitis C can suddenly (and often rapidly) progress due to steep drops in estrogen production. By this stage in a woman’s life, estrogen levels will be more or less the same as men’s. This can accelerate the speed by which compensated cirrhosis (where the liver is still functional) becomes decompensated, leading to acute liver failure. […] There is evidence that estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) used in some postmenopausal women can also slow the rate of HCV progression and the degree of liver fibrosis.
- #91 Symptoms of Hepatitis C in Womenhttps://www.verywellhealth.com/hepatitis-c-symptoms-in-females-4776511
Estrogen also appears to have a blunting effect on chronic HCV infection in females, meaning that the disease tends to progress much slower in women than in men. […] The same does not hold true for postmenopausal women in whom hepatitis C can suddenly (and often rapidly) progress due to steep drops in estrogen production. By this stage in a woman’s life, estrogen levels will be more or less the same as men’s. This can accelerate the speed by which compensated cirrhosis (where the liver is still functional) becomes decompensated, leading to acute liver failure. […] There is evidence that estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) used in some postmenopausal women can also slow the rate of HCV progression and the degree of liver fibrosis.
- #92 Symptoms of Hepatitis C in Womenhttps://www.verywellhealth.com/hepatitis-c-symptoms-in-females-4776511
The symptoms of hepatitis C in women are similar to those in men. However, the disease can progress differently in people who are biologically female. Hepatitis C is a potentially fatal viral infection that can cause long-term damage to the liver. […] For some people, however, the infection can persist and become chronic, causing progressive injury to the liver. Over the course of years or decades, chronic hepatitis C can progress silently, leading to liver fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis (liver damage), liver failure, and liver cancer. For many, the disease will only become apparent in the advanced stages of infection. […] The review further details that women usually experience a sudden increase in disease activity in later, post-menopausal years, whereas men have steadier, albeit more rapid, disease progression.
- #93 Symptoms of Hepatitis C in Womenhttps://www.verywellhealth.com/hepatitis-c-symptoms-in-females-4776511
Estrogen also appears to have a blunting effect on chronic HCV infection in females, meaning that the disease tends to progress much slower in women than in men. […] The same does not hold true for postmenopausal women in whom hepatitis C can suddenly (and often rapidly) progress due to steep drops in estrogen production. By this stage in a woman’s life, estrogen levels will be more or less the same as men’s. This can accelerate the speed by which compensated cirrhosis (where the liver is still functional) becomes decompensated, leading to acute liver failure. […] There is evidence that estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) used in some postmenopausal women can also slow the rate of HCV progression and the degree of liver fibrosis.
- #94https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/abdominal/Pages/Hepatitis-C.aspx
Hepatitis C virus (Hep C or HCV) is a virus that can cause liver disease. Although most children and adolescents recover from the initial phase of HCV infection, 60-80% of them may develop signs of chronic liver infection. This can lead to much more serious liver problems and possibly death. Hepatitis C virus is the cause of approximately 10,000 deaths each year in the United States. […] Infants and children with HCV infection usually do not have symptoms. For those who develop symptoms, the infection may begin as nothing more than a mild flu-like illness. Some people experience one or more of the following: Body aches, fever, diarrhea or nausea, Extreme tiredness, Lack of appetite or weight loss, Dark yellow urine, Light, clay-colored bowel movements, Stomach pain, especially in the upper right side of the abdomen, Jaundice (yellowing of the whites of the eyes or the skin).
- #95https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/abdominal/Pages/Hepatitis-C.aspx
Hepatitis C virus (Hep C or HCV) is a virus that can cause liver disease. Although most children and adolescents recover from the initial phase of HCV infection, 60-80% of them may develop signs of chronic liver infection. This can lead to much more serious liver problems and possibly death. Hepatitis C virus is the cause of approximately 10,000 deaths each year in the United States. […] Infants and children with HCV infection usually do not have symptoms. For those who develop symptoms, the infection may begin as nothing more than a mild flu-like illness. Some people experience one or more of the following: Body aches, fever, diarrhea or nausea, Extreme tiredness, Lack of appetite or weight loss, Dark yellow urine, Light, clay-colored bowel movements, Stomach pain, especially in the upper right side of the abdomen, Jaundice (yellowing of the whites of the eyes or the skin).
- #96https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/abdominal/Pages/Hepatitis-C.aspx
Hepatitis C virus (Hep C or HCV) is a virus that can cause liver disease. Although most children and adolescents recover from the initial phase of HCV infection, 60-80% of them may develop signs of chronic liver infection. This can lead to much more serious liver problems and possibly death. Hepatitis C virus is the cause of approximately 10,000 deaths each year in the United States. […] Infants and children with HCV infection usually do not have symptoms. For those who develop symptoms, the infection may begin as nothing more than a mild flu-like illness. Some people experience one or more of the following: Body aches, fever, diarrhea or nausea, Extreme tiredness, Lack of appetite or weight loss, Dark yellow urine, Light, clay-colored bowel movements, Stomach pain, especially in the upper right side of the abdomen, Jaundice (yellowing of the whites of the eyes or the skin).
- #97https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/abdominal/Pages/Hepatitis-C.aspx
Hepatitis C virus (Hep C or HCV) is a virus that can cause liver disease. Although most children and adolescents recover from the initial phase of HCV infection, 60-80% of them may develop signs of chronic liver infection. This can lead to much more serious liver problems and possibly death. Hepatitis C virus is the cause of approximately 10,000 deaths each year in the United States. […] Infants and children with HCV infection usually do not have symptoms. For those who develop symptoms, the infection may begin as nothing more than a mild flu-like illness. Some people experience one or more of the following: Body aches, fever, diarrhea or nausea, Extreme tiredness, Lack of appetite or weight loss, Dark yellow urine, Light, clay-colored bowel movements, Stomach pain, especially in the upper right side of the abdomen, Jaundice (yellowing of the whites of the eyes or the skin).
- #98https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/abdominal/Pages/Hepatitis-C.aspx
Hepatitis C virus (Hep C or HCV) is a virus that can cause liver disease. Although most children and adolescents recover from the initial phase of HCV infection, 60-80% of them may develop signs of chronic liver infection. This can lead to much more serious liver problems and possibly death. Hepatitis C virus is the cause of approximately 10,000 deaths each year in the United States. […] Infants and children with HCV infection usually do not have symptoms. For those who develop symptoms, the infection may begin as nothing more than a mild flu-like illness. Some people experience one or more of the following: Body aches, fever, diarrhea or nausea, Extreme tiredness, Lack of appetite or weight loss, Dark yellow urine, Light, clay-colored bowel movements, Stomach pain, especially in the upper right side of the abdomen, Jaundice (yellowing of the whites of the eyes or the skin).
- #99https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/abdominal/Pages/Hepatitis-C.aspx
Hepatitis C virus (Hep C or HCV) is a virus that can cause liver disease. Although most children and adolescents recover from the initial phase of HCV infection, 60-80% of them may develop signs of chronic liver infection. This can lead to much more serious liver problems and possibly death. Hepatitis C virus is the cause of approximately 10,000 deaths each year in the United States. […] Infants and children with HCV infection usually do not have symptoms. For those who develop symptoms, the infection may begin as nothing more than a mild flu-like illness. Some people experience one or more of the following: Body aches, fever, diarrhea or nausea, Extreme tiredness, Lack of appetite or weight loss, Dark yellow urine, Light, clay-colored bowel movements, Stomach pain, especially in the upper right side of the abdomen, Jaundice (yellowing of the whites of the eyes or the skin).
- #100https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/abdominal/Pages/Hepatitis-C.aspx
Hepatitis C virus (Hep C or HCV) is a virus that can cause liver disease. Although most children and adolescents recover from the initial phase of HCV infection, 60-80% of them may develop signs of chronic liver infection. This can lead to much more serious liver problems and possibly death. Hepatitis C virus is the cause of approximately 10,000 deaths each year in the United States. […] Infants and children with HCV infection usually do not have symptoms. For those who develop symptoms, the infection may begin as nothing more than a mild flu-like illness. Some people experience one or more of the following: Body aches, fever, diarrhea or nausea, Extreme tiredness, Lack of appetite or weight loss, Dark yellow urine, Light, clay-colored bowel movements, Stomach pain, especially in the upper right side of the abdomen, Jaundice (yellowing of the whites of the eyes or the skin).
- #101https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/abdominal/Pages/Hepatitis-C.aspx
Hepatitis C virus (Hep C or HCV) is a virus that can cause liver disease. Although most children and adolescents recover from the initial phase of HCV infection, 60-80% of them may develop signs of chronic liver infection. This can lead to much more serious liver problems and possibly death. Hepatitis C virus is the cause of approximately 10,000 deaths each year in the United States. […] Infants and children with HCV infection usually do not have symptoms. For those who develop symptoms, the infection may begin as nothing more than a mild flu-like illness. Some people experience one or more of the following: Body aches, fever, diarrhea or nausea, Extreme tiredness, Lack of appetite or weight loss, Dark yellow urine, Light, clay-colored bowel movements, Stomach pain, especially in the upper right side of the abdomen, Jaundice (yellowing of the whites of the eyes or the skin).
- #102https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/abdominal/Pages/Hepatitis-C.aspx
Infants with HCV infection may also have an enlarged liver or spleen, grow more slowly, or fail to gain weight. […] Some children with HCV infection have long-lasting liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis or advanced scarring of the liver. Cirrhosis occurs when the liver cells die and are replaced by scar tissue and fat. The liver eventually stops working and can no longer remove waste from the body. Children and adolescents who develop cirrhosis of the liver because of chronic HCV infection may require a liver transplant to survive. Children infected with HCV are also at risk for other serious diseases, including liver cancer. […] There is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C. The good news is that very effective treatments are available. This includes several new drugs for HCV infection for children 3 years old and up that can cure the virus in 95-98% of children and adolescents.
- #103https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/abdominal/Pages/Hepatitis-C.aspx
Hepatitis C virus (Hep C or HCV) is a virus that can cause liver disease. Although most children and adolescents recover from the initial phase of HCV infection, 60-80% of them may develop signs of chronic liver infection. This can lead to much more serious liver problems and possibly death. Hepatitis C virus is the cause of approximately 10,000 deaths each year in the United States. […] Infants and children with HCV infection usually do not have symptoms. For those who develop symptoms, the infection may begin as nothing more than a mild flu-like illness. Some people experience one or more of the following: Body aches, fever, diarrhea or nausea, Extreme tiredness, Lack of appetite or weight loss, Dark yellow urine, Light, clay-colored bowel movements, Stomach pain, especially in the upper right side of the abdomen, Jaundice (yellowing of the whites of the eyes or the skin).
- #104 Hepatitis C Stages: Acute, Chronic, End, and Morehttps://www.healthline.com/health/hepatitis-c/stages-progression
Every case of hepatitis C begins as an acute infection. Infections that last more than 6 months are considered chronic. Over time, chronic hepatitis C can cause severe liver scarring (cirrhosis) that may lead to liver failure or end-stage hepatitis C. […] Symptoms can be mild for many years, even while liver damage is taking place. […] Many people with hepatitis C end up with chronic hepatitis C that can last a lifetime. The consequences of long-term infection include liver damage, liver cancer, and even death. […] Early detection and treatment are key for stopping the progression of hepatitis C and avoiding major complications. […] The progression begins with inflammation of the liver, followed by the death of liver cells. This causes scarring and hardening of liver tissue. […] Roughly 15-30% of people with chronic hepatitis C go on to develop cirrhosis of the liver within 20 years.
- #105https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/abdominal/Pages/Hepatitis-C.aspx
Infants with HCV infection may also have an enlarged liver or spleen, grow more slowly, or fail to gain weight. […] Some children with HCV infection have long-lasting liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis or advanced scarring of the liver. Cirrhosis occurs when the liver cells die and are replaced by scar tissue and fat. The liver eventually stops working and can no longer remove waste from the body. Children and adolescents who develop cirrhosis of the liver because of chronic HCV infection may require a liver transplant to survive. Children infected with HCV are also at risk for other serious diseases, including liver cancer. […] There is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C. The good news is that very effective treatments are available. This includes several new drugs for HCV infection for children 3 years old and up that can cure the virus in 95-98% of children and adolescents.
- #106 Hep C Facts | Testing, Treatment & Prevention | Hepatitis NSWhttps://www.hep.org.au/hep-c/
Hep C is an easily-cured liver infection that is caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). The virus is slow acting and symptoms may not appear for many years. Hep C can cause long-term liver health problems if left untreated. […] If you think you might be at risk of hep C, its very important to get tested and know your status. This is because hep C is now easy to cure since the new treatments became available in 2016. […] Curing your hep C clears the virus from your body. It helps reduce liver inflammation and can help reverse fibrosis and even cirrhosis. Once you are cured, the virus is cleared from your body, and it means you cant pass it on to someone else. […] You can get hep C again after being cured, so if you are at risk, make sure you get tested and treated again.
- #107 Hep C Facts | Testing, Treatment & Prevention | Hepatitis NSWhttps://www.hep.org.au/hep-c/
Hep C is an easily-cured liver infection that is caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). The virus is slow acting and symptoms may not appear for many years. Hep C can cause long-term liver health problems if left untreated. […] If you think you might be at risk of hep C, its very important to get tested and know your status. This is because hep C is now easy to cure since the new treatments became available in 2016. […] Curing your hep C clears the virus from your body. It helps reduce liver inflammation and can help reverse fibrosis and even cirrhosis. Once you are cured, the virus is cleared from your body, and it means you cant pass it on to someone else. […] You can get hep C again after being cured, so if you are at risk, make sure you get tested and treated again.
- #108 Hep C Facts | Testing, Treatment & Prevention | Hepatitis NSWhttps://www.hep.org.au/hep-c/
Hep C is an easily-cured liver infection that is caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). The virus is slow acting and symptoms may not appear for many years. Hep C can cause long-term liver health problems if left untreated. […] If you think you might be at risk of hep C, its very important to get tested and know your status. This is because hep C is now easy to cure since the new treatments became available in 2016. […] Curing your hep C clears the virus from your body. It helps reduce liver inflammation and can help reverse fibrosis and even cirrhosis. Once you are cured, the virus is cleared from your body, and it means you cant pass it on to someone else. […] You can get hep C again after being cured, so if you are at risk, make sure you get tested and treated again.
- #109 What Are the Symptoms of Hepatitis C? | Mass General Brighamhttps://www.massgeneralbrigham.org/en/about/newsroom/articles/hepatitis-c-risk-factors-and-treatment
Hepatitis C is a virus that spreads from person to person through blood. It causes the liver to become inflamed. This can cause the liver to scar, leading to cirrhosis (scarring due to long-term damage to the liver). Cirrhosis, in turn, can lead to further health complications including liver cancer. […] In most cases, chronic hepatitis C doesn’t cause symptoms at all. The main symptom, if present, is mild to moderate fatigue. But fatigue is fairly common, so many people don’t know it could be due to hepatitis C. […] People with acute hepatitis C infection may experience the following signs and symptoms: Dark yellow urine or gray stools, Fatigue, Fever, Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin), Joint pain, Nausea, poor appetite, or vomiting, Stomach pain. […] Researchers also learned how hepatitis C could lead to liver scarring and even cirrhosis over time. This discovery led to new treatment approaches. Doctors could then prescribe drugs specifically made to cure hepatitis C. And these drugs had few, if any, side effects. […] „Cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C has been a common reason for liver transplantation,” explains Dr. Friedman. „But that number is going down because we can now cure hepatitis C and prevent cirrhosis. In some cases, we can actually reverse cirrhosis.”
- #110 Understanding hepatitis C and liver enzymeshttps://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/hepatitis-c-liver-enzymes
Early and late stage symptoms of hepatitis C can vary from person to person. […] In addition to elevated liver enzymes, early symptoms of a hepatitis C infection can include: fever, fatigue, appetite loss, abdominal pains, nausea and vomiting, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark-colored urine. […] Later stage or chronic symptoms of hepatitis C include: feeling constantly tired, muscular aches and pains, nausea, brain fog, problems with short-term memory or concentration, mood swings, depression, anxiety, indigestion, bloating, itchy skin, abdominal pain. […] Without treatment, hepatitis C can lead to severe complications, such as liver failure or death. […] Liver enzyme tests can help doctors detect damage to the liver potentially resulting from a hepatitis C infection. Early diagnosis is essential to avoid complications.
- #111 Hep C Facts | Testing, Treatment & Prevention | Hepatitis NSWhttps://www.hep.org.au/hep-c/
Hep C is an easily-cured liver infection that is caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). The virus is slow acting and symptoms may not appear for many years. Hep C can cause long-term liver health problems if left untreated. […] If you think you might be at risk of hep C, its very important to get tested and know your status. This is because hep C is now easy to cure since the new treatments became available in 2016. […] Curing your hep C clears the virus from your body. It helps reduce liver inflammation and can help reverse fibrosis and even cirrhosis. Once you are cured, the virus is cleared from your body, and it means you cant pass it on to someone else. […] You can get hep C again after being cured, so if you are at risk, make sure you get tested and treated again.
- #112 Hep C Facts | Testing, Treatment & Prevention | Hepatitis NSWhttps://www.hep.org.au/hep-c/
Hep C is an easily-cured liver infection that is caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). The virus is slow acting and symptoms may not appear for many years. Hep C can cause long-term liver health problems if left untreated. […] If you think you might be at risk of hep C, its very important to get tested and know your status. This is because hep C is now easy to cure since the new treatments became available in 2016. […] Curing your hep C clears the virus from your body. It helps reduce liver inflammation and can help reverse fibrosis and even cirrhosis. Once you are cured, the virus is cleared from your body, and it means you cant pass it on to someone else. […] You can get hep C again after being cured, so if you are at risk, make sure you get tested and treated again.
- #113 NATURAL HISTORY OF HEPATITIS Chttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5939344/
Hepatitis C infection is a common cause of cirrhosis and indication for liver transplantation in the United States. […] The outcome of chronic hepatitis C is variable. It is estimated that 20-25% will develop cirrhosis over a 25-30 year period. […] Approximately 20-30% of persons with chronic hepatitis will progress to cirrhosis over a 25-30 year period. […] Once cirrhosis develops patients are at risk for hepatic decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma and liver-related death. […] The development of cirrhosis is an important milestone in the natural history of chronic hepatitis C. […] Once decompensation develops, there is an increased risk of death or need for liver transplant. […] Insulin resistance and diabetes are associated with faster progression fibrosis, increased risk of cirrhosis and its complications including HCC and lower response to therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
- #114 Hepatitis C Progression – Hephttps://www.hepmag.com/basics/liver-health/hepatitis-c-progression
Symptoms of advanced cirrhosis may include a bloated belly from fluid buildup (ascites), bleeding from enlarged blood vessels in the esophagus and stomach (varices) and cognitive impairmentand even comadue to buildup of toxins in the brain (hepatic encephalopathy). […] It typically takes around 20 to 30 years for a person with hepatitis C to develop advanced cirrhosis, but several factors can accelerate its progression, including older age, obesity, heavy alcohol use and compromised immunity. […] Although cirrhosis is not always life-threatening, between 1% and 5% of people with untreated chronic hepatitis C will die from liver cancer or liver failure. Effective antiviral treatment can slow or halt liver disease progression, but it does not always fully reverse existing damage, especially if a person has already developed cirrhosis.
- #115 Hepatitis C Virus (HVC): Symptoms & Treatments | SSM Healthhttps://www.ssmhealth.com/services/gastroenterology/hepatitis-c-virus
Hepatitis C is a viral infection spread through contact with an infected persons blood that leads to inflammation of the liver. The Hepatitis C virus (HCV) can cause acute or chronic infections. In acute cases, the infection can last up to six months, but it goes away on its own. In most cases, however, Hepatitis C results in long-term, chronic infections. […] Left untreated, Hepatitis C can lead to liver disease, cirrhosis, liver cancer and death. In fact, chronic Hepatitis C infection is a major cause of liver transplants in the United States, and more than 15,000 people die every year from HCV-related issues. […] Most people with Hepatitis C have no symptoms for several years. In fact, up to 80 percent of people who carry HVC show no symptoms until it’s too late and liver damage has occurred. As a result, federal disease experts recommend screenings for all individuals aged 18 years and older. […] Many people dont know they have Hepatitis C because the symptoms may be mild or may not appear at all. But Hepatitis C often begins damaging the liver before symptoms appear. Thats why getting tested is so important.
- #116 Hepatitis C Stages: Acute, Chronic, End, and Morehttps://www.healthline.com/health/hepatitis-c/stages-progression
Every case of hepatitis C begins as an acute infection. Infections that last more than 6 months are considered chronic. Over time, chronic hepatitis C can cause severe liver scarring (cirrhosis) that may lead to liver failure or end-stage hepatitis C. […] Symptoms can be mild for many years, even while liver damage is taking place. […] Many people with hepatitis C end up with chronic hepatitis C that can last a lifetime. The consequences of long-term infection include liver damage, liver cancer, and even death. […] Early detection and treatment are key for stopping the progression of hepatitis C and avoiding major complications. […] The progression begins with inflammation of the liver, followed by the death of liver cells. This causes scarring and hardening of liver tissue. […] Roughly 15-30% of people with chronic hepatitis C go on to develop cirrhosis of the liver within 20 years.
- #117https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/abdominal/Pages/Hepatitis-C.aspx
Infants with HCV infection may also have an enlarged liver or spleen, grow more slowly, or fail to gain weight. […] Some children with HCV infection have long-lasting liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis or advanced scarring of the liver. Cirrhosis occurs when the liver cells die and are replaced by scar tissue and fat. The liver eventually stops working and can no longer remove waste from the body. Children and adolescents who develop cirrhosis of the liver because of chronic HCV infection may require a liver transplant to survive. Children infected with HCV are also at risk for other serious diseases, including liver cancer. […] There is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C. The good news is that very effective treatments are available. This includes several new drugs for HCV infection for children 3 years old and up that can cure the virus in 95-98% of children and adolescents.