Hepatitis C Symptoms 

Hepatitis C symptoms and signs don't appear in everyone who has been infected with the hepatitis C virus. In fact, four out of every five people who have hepatitis C don't know they've been infected with a potentially serious liver disease. Those who do experience hepatitis C symptoms and signs will find they range from slight to severe.

Hepatitis C symptoms list Fatigue is the most common chronic hepatitis C symptom. But those who have hepatitis C may also experience any of the following signs and symptoms.

* abdominal pain
* stools will look different, often characterized by a clay color
* urine will also look different, becoming darker and even coffee-colored
* the patient is likely to experience an unusual amount of itching
* the patient will have unusual headaches
* jaundice, which makes the skin and whites of the eyes look yellow
* individuals with hepatitis C sometimes experience a loss of appetite
* muscle aches
* some of those who have been infected with hepatitis C will suffer nausea
* vomiting

Hepatitis C is caused by the hepatitis C virus, which is also commonly known as HCV. Most of the time, an exchange of blood is needed to transmit the virus from one person to another. It is not usually transmitted through sexual contact. In the United States, hepatitis C is transmitted more frequently by unclean needles used for illegal drug injections than through any other means.

Two of every three patients who have acute hepatitis C go on to develop chronic hepatitis C, which is an extremely serious type of liver disease.

Health organizations estimate that about three percent, or more than 170 million people worldwide, are infected with the hepatitis C virus. Hepatitis C rates are unusually high - perhaps 15 percent - in some parts of Asia and Africa. It appears Egypt leads the world with an infection rate exceeding fifteen percent.

Hepatitis C prevention is mainly a matter of common sense. Remember that the hep C virus is transmitted by a blood exchange. If no blood exchange takes place, there's no transmission of the virus. Do not inject illegal drugs. Be careful not to share items like razors, toothbrushes and personal grooming or hygiene items with anyone who may have the hepatitis C virus.

If you visit a tattoo or body piercing shop, make sure that all instruments being used are clean and sanitary. Also, anyone who performs body piercing or gives you a tattoo should wear latex gloves and disinfect all surfaces in the area.

If you go to an acupuncturist, seek assurances that the needles used for the procedure are sterilized.

Generally speaking, you don't have to worry much about hepatitis C if you're traveling. Nonetheless, anyone traveling to countries where hepatitis C is highly prevalent should consider how much they may be in direct contact with blood, particularly blood transfusions. Civilian travelers and military personnel based overseas should take special care if they get a tattoo or have cosmetic body piercing done. As is true with blood screening, many tattoo parlors and body piercing shops do not observe strict sanitation and sterilization standards.

Is there a hepatitis C medicine? There is no hepatitis c medicine that will cure the disease. However, some patients seem to benefit by taking a hepatitis c medicine known as interferon. Taking interferon alpha for hepatitis C along with ribavirin sometimes seems to help some individuals.

Currently, there's not a vaccine available that can prevent hepatitis C. Many people have heard that there's a hepatitis vaccine, and in fact immune globulin will help protect you against a hepatitis A infection. But it is not effective for hepatitis C.

Chronic hepatitis C is the most frequent cause of liver transplants in the United States.

Testing for hepatitis C is available. Anyone who thinks they may have been exposed to the virus should seek testing for hepatitis C, even if no hepatitis C signs and symptoms have presented themselves.

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