Did you know that hep C symptoms only show up in 20% of people with hepatitis C? That means four out of five people with hepatitis C have zero hep C symptoms. Which means they might never get an STD test for hepatitis C.
If you have hep C symptoms, consider yourself lucky: those who get STD tested and get treated have a 75% chance of clearing the virus from their systems, thanks to new drugs on the market.
Most Common Hep C Symptoms
Remember, even the hep C symptoms considered “common” are only common among the minority who show signs of the disease. They tend to hit between five and 12 weeks after infection and might include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Appetite loss
- Lethargy or fatigue
- Pain on the right side of the abdomen (where the liver sits)
- Yellowed skin or eyes (jaundice)
- Dark urin
- Grayish stools
Later-Stage Hep C Symptoms
Here’s the problem with a disease that doesn’t cause symptoms: people don’t know they’re infected. And that means they don’t seek treatment. Untreated, hepatitis C can lead to liver damage and cirrhosis, which often does cause symptoms, including the following.
- Jaundice
- Appetite and weight loss
- Gray stools and dark urine
- Low-grade fever
- Abdominal distension or pain
- Fatigue
Because treatment for hepatitis C tends to work best when applied in the early stages of infection, the CDC recommends an STD test for hepatitis C based on risk factors (like using injected drugs or sharing tattoo needles) rather than presence of hep C symptoms.
