Hepatitis C is a viral infection that results in inflammation of the liver. It spreads through contaminated blood and may even lead to severe liver damage. It can also cause cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer, so it is important to understand the condition to facilitate early diagnosis and timely treatment. In this article, let’s look at the symptoms and diagnosis of hepatitis C.

Symptoms of hepatitis C
A chronic hepatitis C infection typically exhibits aggravating symptoms after a few years. In this case, the virus damages the liver enough to cause the following signs and symptoms:

• Yellow discoloration of the eyes and skin, also called jaundice
• Easily bruising and bleeding
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue and tiredness
• Itchy and inflamed skin
• Dark-colored urine
• Weight loss
• Fever and nausea
• A buildup of fluid in the abdomen area
• Swelling and pain in the legs
• Drowsiness, confusion, lack of concentration, and slurred speech
• The appearance of spider-like blood vessels on one’s skin

A hepatitis C infection begins with an acute phase that starts 1-3 months post-exposure to the virus. It may last for two weeks to three months.

Diagnosis of hepatitis C

Screening for hepatitis C
All adults between 18 and 79 years can be screened for hepatitis C, even if they don’t show any symptoms of liver disease. Getting this screening is all the more important for:

• People who have an abnormal liver function test report
• People who have injected or inhaled any unlawful substances
• Babies born to hepatitis C-positive mothers
• People with an HIV infection
• Sexual partner of a person diagnosed with a hepatitis C infection
• People who have undergone organ transplants or blood transfusions
• People exposed to blood needle sticks
• People suffering from hemophilia
• People born between 1945 and 1965

Diagnostic tests for liver damage
Several tests help doctors understand the symptoms of hepatitis C and facilitate diagnosis. They also help doctors assess the amount of liver damage. The diagnostic methods for hepatitis C include the following:

• Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE):  This is a non-invasive test that uses Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technology with some sound wave patterns that bounce off the liver to make a visual map of the organ. This map shows the amount of stiffness and rigidity in the liver that is typically caused by hepatitis C infections.
• Transient elastography:  This is a type of ultrasound scanning that transmits vibrations into the liver. The speed at which these vibrations return and disperse helps measure the stiffness of the liver tissues.
• Liver biopsy:  This invasive procedure is done under the supervision of a trained medical professional. The procedure involves inserting a needle through the abdominal wall to remove a section of the liver tissue for testing in the laboratory.
• Blood tests:  Several blood tests help doctors understand the severity of liver damage.

Understanding the symptoms and diagnosis of hepatitis C is important to ensure timely treatment, which can be life-changing in many cases.