Hepatitis C can be transmitted to you if the blood of an infected person gets into your body. This can happen as a result of sharing needles during intravenous drug use, being born to a mother infected with hepatitis C, or suffering an accidental needle injury. (2) Less commonly, a person can get HCV through sexual contact with someone who is infected. (3) In some cases, hepatitis C causes only a mild illness for less than six months before the virus passes out of the body. In other cases, it becomes a serious, lifelong illness that damages the liver and increases the risk of liver failure. (4) Hepatitis C is sometimes classified by different stages of the disease: acute, chronic, and end stage. Since hepatitis C can progress over time, it’s important to recognize the symptoms of an infection and get treatment to avoid advanced liver disease. Most people who contract acute hepatitis C do not show any symptoms, the CDC notes. And because there are no symptoms, they never receive a diagnosis. But others with acute hepatitis C have the following symptoms: (1)
Gastrointestinal issues, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or clay-colored fecesDecreased appetiteWeight lossFeverFatigueDark urineJoint painJaundice (a condition in which the skin and eyes become yellowed)
According to a 2020 study, about half of all people exposed to HCV develop an acute infection that clears out of the body spontaneously. The infection usually clears from the body within six months. The remaining 50 to 60 percent of those exposed to HCV develop chronic hepatitis C. Among people who develop an acute infection with symptoms, those symptoms typically last only 2 to 12 weeks. (5) It’s common for people to unknowingly carry HCV until they go through a blood screening or other examination for reasons unrelated to hepatitis C. (1) However, chronic hepatitis C is a serious issue that can result in long-term health problems, including liver damage, liver cancer, liver failure, and death. (4) According to the CDC, approximately 5 to 25 percent of people with chronic hepatitis C develop cirrhosis (an irreversible scarring of the liver that prevents the organ from functioning normally) within 10 to 20 years. (6) People with cirrhosis have a 1 to 4 percent annual risk of developing liver cancer and a 3 to 6 percent risk of hepatic decompensation (the development of serious, life-threatening liver-related problems). (6) There’s a 15 to 20 percent risk of death in the year following the development of decompensation. (1) Age and gender have been shown to affect how chronic hepatitis C progresses, warns Dr. Adalja. It doesn’t advance to cirrhosis and liver cancer as quickly in premenopausal women as it does in men, according to a report. (7) Adalja notes that other factors may accelerate chronic hepatitis C progression, increasing the risk of liver damage. These include HIV or hepatitis B coinfection, alcohol overuse, and cigarette smoking. The symptoms of chronic hepatitis C vary depending on the type of liver damage. Cirrhosis can produce a variety of symptoms: (8)
ItchinessFatigueAbdominal bloating from a buildup of fluidsSwelling (also due to a buildup of fluids) in the feet, ankles, or legsSpider angiomas (small red spots of dilated blood vessels)
According to the latest data available from the CDC, hepatitis C was responsible for more than 15,000 deaths in the United States in 2018; however, the CDC notes that figure is only a fraction of the deaths thought to be attributable in whole or in part to hepatitis C. (6) End-stage liver disease is accompanied by many debilitating symptoms: (9)
Extreme fatigueSevere itching of the skin (pruritus)Abdominal swellingHemorrhaging and enlargement of the veins, which can cause gastrointestinal bleedingCognitive decline from the accumulation of toxins in the bloodstream, which can result in mild cognitive impairments (problems with thought processes), severe loss of brain functions, and coma.
Because hepatitis C is often undiagnosed for years until serious, sometimes irreversible symptoms arise, it’s highly important to get screened for the virus if you’re at risk. (10)
Final Word
The hepatitis C virus can live in your body without causing symptoms for years, but this is by no means a minor illness. Chronic hepatitis can progress, causing several complications, including life-threatening ones. If you think you’ve been exposed to the virus or if you’re at risk, talk to your doctor — even if you don’t have any symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment could potentially eliminate the virus from your body and protect your liver health. Additional reporting by Valencia Higuera.
