Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C, the full name of hepatitis C virus, is a disease caused by the hepatitis C virus. Because hepatitis C virus is highly insidious, many patients have no obvious symptoms in the early stages of infection and are therefore easily ignored. However, as time goes by, the condition may gradually worsen and even evolve into serious consequences such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. So, what are the symptoms of hepatitis C? Next, we will explain in detail the early signs of hepatitis C, the changes in symptoms as the disease progresses, and the symptoms that require vigilance.

1. Early signs and manifestations of hepatitis C

In the early stages of hepatitis C infection, some patients may experience mild symptoms, but these symptoms are often non-specific and can easily be confused with other diseases. Common early symptoms of hepatitis C include:

(1) Fatigue: Patients may feel persistent fatigue that is difficult to relieve even with adequate rest.

(2) Loss of appetite: Reduced interest in food, reduced food intake, and may be accompanied by nausea.

(3) Right upper quadrant discomfort: There may be dull pain or discomfort in the area where the liver is located.

(4) Darkening of urine color: Urine may appear dark yellow, which is a manifestation of jaundice.

(5) Joint pain: A small number of patients may have unexplained joint pain.

It should be emphasized that not all patients with hepatitis C will have the above symptoms in the early stages, and some patients may even have no obvious symptoms throughout the entire infection process. Therefore, people who are at risk of hepatitis C infection (such as those who have received medical procedures such as blood transfusion, hemodialysis, organ transplantation, or have had close contact with hepatitis C patients) should be screened regularly for timely detection and treatment.

2. Symptom changes as hepatitis C progresses

If hepatitis C is not diagnosed and treated in time, the virus will continue to damage liver function, causing the condition to gradually worsen. As the disease progresses, patients may experience the following symptoms:

(1) Jaundice: The skin and sclera (whites of the eyes) appear yellowish, and the color of the urine further deepens, even to a strong brown color.

(2) Ascites: Due to impaired liver function, fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity increases, forming ascites. Patients may experience symptoms such as abdominal distension and bloating.

(3) Bleeding tendency: The liver is an important organ for synthesizing coagulation factors. When liver function is impaired, patients may develop bleeding tendencies such as gum bleeding, nose bleeding, and skin ecchymosis.

(4) Liver palms and spider nevus: Liver palms are characterized by redness of the skin at the thenar and hypothenar eminences of the palms; spider nevus is a red blood vessel dilation nevus that looks like a spider and often appears on the face, neck and chest. .

(5) Hepatic encephalopathy: In the severe stage of the disease, patients may have symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy such as disturbance of consciousness and abnormal behavior.

3. Recognize Hepatitis C: Be wary of these symptoms

In view of the insidiousness and harmfulness of hepatitis C, once any of the above symptoms occur, especially those who are at risk of hepatitis C infection, they should seek medical attention immediately for relevant examinations. In addition, even if there are no obvious symptoms, regular hepatitis C screening is recommended to detect and block the spread of the virus in time.

In addition to medical examinations, good living habits and dietary structure are also crucial to preventing and controlling hepatitis C. It is recommended to maintain adequate sleep, appropriate exercise, a balanced diet (consume more foods rich in vitamins and minerals, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, etc.), and avoid overexertion and mental stress. At the same time, quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption to reduce damage to the liver.

In short, although hepatitis C is hidden and harmful, as long as we remain vigilant, conduct regular screenings, and actively cooperate with doctors’ treatment recommendations, we can hopefully minimize the threat to health caused by hepatitis C.