Hepatitis C history and symptoms
|
Hepatitis C |
|
Diagnosis |
|
Treatment |
|
Hepatitis C history and symptoms On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Hepatitis C history and symptoms |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Hepatitis C history and symptoms |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Seyedmahdi Pahlavani, M.D. [2]
Overview
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
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
Jaundice
Indicate advanced liver disease. Less commonly seen in acute infection.
Ascites
Indicate advanced live disease.
Extrahepatic manifestations
- Vasculitis,
- Renal injury and dark-colored urine
- Skin manifestations such as porphyria cutanea tarda
References
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 2.0 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.