Hepatitis C
https://www.patientslikeme.com/conditions/hep-c
Also known as: hep C, HCVContent medically reviewed byDr. Karthikeya T MMD, Internal MedicineView full profile onLinkedInOVERVIEWSYMPTOMSDIAGNOSISTREATMENTSymptoms & ReportsSymptoms & ReportsIf you are experiencing new, severe, or persistent symptoms, contact a health care provider.During the acute phase (first 6 months after infection) most persons show no symptoms or might experience a mild illness. Jaundice (yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes) Easy bruising and bleeding Dark-colored urine, light-colored stools Fatigue Abdominal pain Loss of appetite Nausea Diarrhea Fever Ascites (accumulation of fluid and swelling of the abdominal cavity) Star-shaped vein pattern developing on the swollen belly Itching The common cause of HCV infection is through contact with the blood of an infected person The risk factors include: Reuse of injecting instruments Unprotected sex Sharing toothbrushes, scissors and razors The transfusion of unscreened blood and blood products Tattooing and body piercing Infected mother to baby, during pregnancy Avoid usage of used drug injecting equipment Avoid tattooing, acupuncture or ear piercing where the equipment is not known to be adequately sterilized Practice safe sex Hepatic encephalopathy: Toxins reach the brain and cause symptoms such as confusion, drowsiness, and slurred speech Scarring of the liver (cirrhosis): After 20 to 30 years of hepatitis C infection, cirrhosis may occur Liver cancer: A small number of people with hepatitis C infection may develop liver cancer Liver failure: Advanced cirrhosis can cause liver to stop functioning
Jaundice (yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes)
Easy bruising and bleeding
Dark-colored urine, light-colored stools
Fatigue
Abdominal pain
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Diarrhea
Fever
Ascites (accumulation of fluid and swelling of the abdominal cavity)
Star-shaped vein pattern developing on the swollen belly
Itching
The common cause of HCV infection is through contact with the blood of an infected person
The risk factors include:
Reuse of injecting instruments
Unprotected sex
Sharing toothbrushes, scissors and razors
The transfusion of unscreened blood and blood products
Tattooing and body piercing
Infected mother to baby, during pregnancy
Avoid usage of used drug injecting equipment
Avoid tattooing, acupuncture or ear piercing where the equipment is not known to be adequately sterilized
Practice safe sex
Hepatic encephalopathy: Toxins reach the brain and cause symptoms such as confusion, drowsiness, and slurred speech
Scarring of the liver (cirrhosis): After 20 to 30 years of hepatitis C infection, cirrhosis may occur
Liver cancer: A small number of people with hepatitis C infection may develop liver cancer
Liver failure: Advanced cirrhosis can cause liver to stop functioning
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