Symptoms of HCV 

Many people report few or no initial symptoms during the acute phase of HCV infection. Most people with chronic HCV also do not have symptoms and lead relatively normal lives. However, others experience mild flu-like symptoms, including nausea, fatigue, fever, headaches, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and muscle or joint pain. Some individuals report more severe flu-like symptoms, as well as jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes) and/or dark urine. Over time (often years or even decades) people with chronic HCV may develop various symptoms related to liver damage. Chronic HCV is also associated with a wide variety of possibly related conditions.

Symptoms Reported by People with HCV

Acute Hepatitis C
Flu-like illness	Abdominal bloating	Nausea
Fatigue (mild to severe)	Abdominal pain	Vomiting
Loss of appetite (anorexia)	Fever	Night sweats
Diarrhea	Jaundice	Indigestion
Muscle or joint pain	Headaches

Chronic Hepatitis C
Fatigue (mild to severe)	"Brain fog"	Mood swings
Loss of appetite (anorexia)	Nausea	Indigestion
Muscle or joint pain	Abdominal pain	Fever
Headaches	Depression

Late-Stage Hepatitis C with Cirrhosis
Fatigue (mild to severe)	Fever	Nausea
Loss of appetite (anorexia)	Vomiting	Frequent urination
Jaundice	Indigestion	Headaches
Muscle or joint pain	Abdominal pain	Abdominal bloating
Depression	Mood swings	Cognitive dysfunction
Lack of concentration	Mental confusion	Dizziness
Peripheral vision problems

Conditions Linked to HCV

A number of different conditions have been associated with HCV. Some of these are autoimmune conditions, in which the immune system attacks the body's own tissues. Conditions sometimes seen in people with chronic HCV include Sjogren's syndrome (characterized by dry eyes and dry mouth), kidney conditions such as glomerulonephritis, heart and circulatory problems such as thrombosis, and skin conditions such as lichen planus (characterized by white plaques) and porphyria cutanea tarda (characterized by a sun-sensitive rash). Other related conditions include certain types of arthritis (joint inflammation), arthralgia (joint pain), thyroid disease, vasculitis (blood vessel damage), cryoglobulinemia (high levels of a blood protein that settles in the kidneys, skin, and nerve endings). Most serious conditions are associated with late-stage HCV disease, in which the liver is damaged and not able to function properly. Many people with HCV never experience any of these conditions. Check with your doctor if you experience any unusual symptoms.  

Permission to reprint this document is granted and encouraged with credit to the Hepatitis C Support Project www.hcvadvocate.org