Hepatitis C is a disease that infects the liver and causes it to be inflamed. A person may not even realize that he has been infected with the virus, although some people do report a couple of symptoms such as body aches and fatigue. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 15 to 25 percent of people who contract hepatitis C will be able to fight the virus without treatment.
Fever
When a person first contracts hepatitis C, his body will begin to defend against the virus. The defense system activity causes the body's temperature to rise. This elevation is known as a fever.
Abdominal Pain
Since hepatitis C affects the liver, abdominal pain is often a symptom that individuals experience. The inflammation of the liver can cause pain and even small capillaries to burst in the organ.
Dark Urine
When the liver is inflamed, as it is when hepatitis C is contracted, it's unable to process nutrients and toxins appropriately. This buildup is expelled through urine and is usually in a condensed form. The condensed amount causes the urine to have a dark yellow or even red hue.
Clay-Colored Bowel Movements
The buildup of unprocessed nutrients and toxins is also passed through the bowels. It is not uncommon for an infected person to experience an unusual color in his bowel movements. The color can range from a clay color to black.
Jaundice
Jaundice is caused by unprocessed bilirubin. When the body has a high level of this waste product, the skin and whites of the eyes will appear yellow. Urine will even take on a dark yellow or orange color. Sunlight can help ease this condition since UV rays can breakdown excess bilirubin and expel it through an individual's bowel movements and urine.
