Hepatitis C history and symptoms

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:  Seyedmahdi Pahlavani, M.D. [2], Javaria Anwer M.D.[3]

## Contents

* 1 Overview
* 2 History and Symptoms
* 2.1 Constitutional Sypmtoms
* 2.2 Jaundice
* 2.3 Ascites
* 2.4 Extrahepatic manifestations
* 3 References

## Overview[edit | edit source]

Acute HCV infection is often asymptomatic and may only manifest as fatigue and a low grade fever. Patients with chronic infection may present late with symptoms of liver cirrhosis. Patients are often diagnosed incidentally following an abnormal liver function test panel.

## History and Symptoms[edit | edit source]

Approximately 70%–80% of people with acute hepatitis C do not develop any symptoms early in the disease course. The majority of patients with chronic hepatitis C present at an advanced disease stage, usually due to the manifestations of the liver cirrhosis. Although asymptomatic, up to two-third patients present with extra-liver manifestations.[1] In asymptomatic patients, hepatitis C is often detected following the incidental finding of abnormal liver function tests.[2] If symptoms occur, the average time is 6–7 weeks after exposure, but this can range from 2 weeks to 6 months. Patients may develop mild to severe symptoms soon after being infected, including:[2]

### Constitutional Sypmtoms[edit | edit source]

* Fever
* Fatigue
* Anorexia
* Arthralgia
* Nausea
* Vomiting

### Jaundice[edit | edit source]

Indicate advanced liver disease. Less commonly seen in acute infection.

### Ascites[edit | edit source]

Indicate advanced live disease.

### Extrahepatic manifestations[edit | edit source]

* Vasculitis,
* Renal injury and dark-colored urine
* Skin manifestations such as porphyria cutanea tarda

## References[edit | edit source]

1. ↑ Cacoub, Patrice; Longo, Dan L.; Saadoun, David (2021). "Extrahepatic Manifestations of Chronic HCV Infection". New England Journal of Medicine. 384 (11): 1038–1052. doi:10.1056/NEJMra2033539. ISSN 0028-4793.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Wilkins T, Malcolm JK, Raina D, Schade RR (2010). "Hepatitis C: diagnosis and treatment". Am Fam Physician. 81 (11): 1351–7. PMID 20521755.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)

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