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Symptoms

Symptoms for hepatitis C vary a lot and do not tell you anything about how much damage has been done to your liver. Some people have severe symptoms but when doctors look at their liver there is little sign of damage. Equally, it is true that people with no symptoms have been found to have liver damage.

If you are having a range of symptoms that won't go away, we would recommend you speak with your GP or another local medical care team.

Can I tell if I have the virus?

You can not tell if you have hepatitis C by the way you feel or from your symptoms. You need to go by your risk factors. If you have ever done anything or received anything that has put you at risk of hepatitis C then please go for a test. It is the only way to find out if you have the virus, For this reason, hepatitis C is often called the 'silent disease' since it damages you liver quietly without you knowing over time.

You also can't tell how much damage has been done to your liver by how you feel. Symptoms for hepatitis C vary a lot and do not tell you anything about how much damage has been done to the liver.

Symptoms that may be experienced

Symptoms for hepatitis C range from none at all to vague ones. Because of this, some people have been told they have ‘chronic fatigue' before being tested for hepatitis C . Your doctor may not consider hepatitis C unless they know you have some kind of risk factor for the virus or your symptoms change or persist. However, symptoms can also be more severe and painful.

Not everyone with hepatitis C will experience symptoms but the most common ones experienced include:

  • Fatigue
  • Joint pain
  • Pains in the liver area
  • Irritable bowel symptoms
  • Headaches
  • Brain fog
  • Memory loss
  • Lack of concentration
  • Depression
  • Mood swings
  • Itching
  • Night sweats
  • Loss of appetite
  • Digestion problems

These are examples but other symptoms may be experienced linked to hepatitis C.