Hepatitis C is an infectious disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that 70 to 80 percent of people with this virus do not experience symptoms. People who experience symptoms of Hepatitis C often become ill 6 to 7 weeks after exposure to the virus. Contact your doctor as soon as possible if you develop any of the most common symptoms of Hepatitis C.
Flu-like Symptoms
If you become infected by the hepatitis C virus, you can develop flu-like symptoms. These symptoms can include fatigue, muscle or joint pain, fever or decreased appetite. The severity of flu-like symptoms experienced by a patient with Hepatitis C can vary from mild to severe and can persist for several months.
Jaundice
The hepatitis C virus primarily attacks the tissue of the liver. When this occurs, the virus can cause permanent liver damage. One of the most common signs of liver damage is the development of a condition called jaundice. People who have jaundice develop a noticeable yellowing of the skin and eyes. You may also notice that your urine appears darker than usual---another symptom that is indicative of liver damage.
Itching
Patients with this virus can develop unusually itchy skin across the body as a common symptom of Hepatitis C. If this occurs, you can begin to scratch incessantly at your skin and can develop red, dry or flaky patches of skin as a result of this infection.
Stomach Upset
If you have Hepatitis C, you can experience stomach upset. An upset stomach can be accompanied by nausea or vomiting, explain health professionals at Medline Plus, an informational health website provided as a service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. You may also experience pain within your abdomen---particularly within the upper right side of your stomach, which is where your liver is located. This infection can also cause you to excrete abnormally pale or clay-colored stools when you have a bowel movement.
