Hepatitis C (cont.)
In this Article
What are the symptoms of hepatitis C infection?
About 75% of people have no symptoms when they first acquire HCV infection.
The remaining 25% may complain of fatigue, loss of
appetite, muscle aches or fever. Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice) is
rare at this early stage of
infection.
Over time, the liver in people with chronic infection
may begin to experience the effects of the persistent inflammation caused by the
immune reaction to the virus. Blood tests may show elevated levels of liver
enzymes, a sign of liver damage, which is often the first suggestion that the
infection may be present. Patients may become easily fatigued or complain of
nonspecific symptoms.
As cirrhosis develops, symptoms increase and may include :
In patients with advanced cirrhosis, the liver begins to
fail. This is a life-threatening problem. Confusion and even coma
(encephalopathy) may result from the inability of the liver to process certain
toxic substances.
Increased pressure in the blood vessels of the liver (portal
hypertension) may cause fluid to build up in the abdominal cavity (ascites) and result in engorged veins in
the swallowing tube
(esophageal varices) that tear easily and can bleed suddenly and massively.
Portal hypertension also can cause kidney failure or an enlarged spleen resulting in a
decrease of blood cells and the development of anemia,
increased risk of infection and bleeding.
In advanced cirrhosis, liver failure
causes decreased production of clotting factors. Patients with advanced
cirrhosis often develop jaundice because the damaged liver is unable to
eliminate a yellow compound, called bilirubin that is formed from the hemoglobin
of old red blood cells.
Next: What conditions outside the liver are associated with hepatitis C? »
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