Symptoms of hepatitis C

When a person is first infected with hepatitis C, this is called an acute infection. During the acute infection, most people do not have symptoms. If symptoms do happen, they can include:

• Fever
• Fatigue (feeling very tired)
• Not feeling hungry
• Feeling nauseous, or sick to your stomach
• Vomiting
• Dark-colored urine (pee)
• Grey-colored bowel movements
• Pain in your joints
• Jaundice (having yellow-colored skin or eyes)

Since most people do not have symptoms of hepatitis C when they first get it, they do not know they have it. You can live for years with hepatitis C and not know you are infected. In time, hepatitis C can lead to liver damage, liver cancer, liver failure or even death.

Symptoms that show your liver is damaged

• Swelling in your abdomen (belly area)
• Bleeding easily
• Bruising easily
• Fatigue (feeling very tired)
• Not feeling hungry
• Dark-colored urine (pee)
• Weight loss without a known reason
• Jaundice (having yellow-colored skin or eyes)
• Swelling in your legs
• Itchy skin all over

How can I find out if I have hepatitis C?

The only way to know if you have hepatitis C is to get tested. Talk to your doctor about being tested, especially if you are at higher risk.