Hepatitis C is a viral infection that causes liver inflammation and can sometimes lead to damage to the liver. Hepatitis C is a virus that spreads through contaminated blood. Many baby boomers and people who have shared needles or people who have tattoos are more susceptible to hepatitis C. The good news is Hep C is curable and the symptoms vary from person to person. The most common symptoms include the following:
1. Pain in the abdomen
Abdominal pain felt by a hepatitis C sufferer can be mild to severe and is more prevalent when the infection is acute. Hepatitis often goes undiagnosed and really causes any symptoms so those who have hepatitis C often don’t know that they have the virus they just feel their stomach is upset or their abdomen is in pain for no clear reason.
2. Symptoms related to abdominal pain.
Other symptoms related to abdominal pain consist of bloating fluid in the abdomen or nausea. Because abdominal pain is linked to so many conditions, it is important for you to see a doctor to rule out Hep C. If left untreated, patients may suffer liver failure or even death.
3. Overall malaise
Hepatitis C can affect one’s overall body including symptoms such as fatigue, fever, and loss of appetite. The symptoms can also present as and include swollen blood vessels in the skin and yellowing of the eyes. Other symptoms include depression and weight loss.
4. Ignoring the symptoms
The trouble with hepatitis C is that many people ignore their symptoms or mistake them for symptoms of other things such as fatigue, the flu, or another underlying condition. The symptoms of Hep C should never be ignored and if you suspect that you have hepatitis C you should seek treatment from your doctor immediately.
5. Treatment options for hepatitis C
There are many procedures and medications out there to treat Hep C. One such drug is Harvoni, which is a once daily pill, and if it is effective, you should see remission of Hep C in 3 months. In fact the rate of cure was shown in 94% of the patients who took the drug. Other hepatitis C medications include Mayvret, a drug similar to Harvoni, in that both medications treat chronic (long-lasting) hepatitis C by reducing the amount of hepatitis C virus in the body and boosting the immune system.