Hepatitis C is a contagious disease that spreads through contact with bodily fluids or blood comprising the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It is a type of liver infection that may lead to severe liver damage. Acute hepatitis C may show only brief symptoms and you may not know that you are infected, which may result in a more severe form of this disorder.

Here are some common causes and symptoms of Hepatitis C that you should know about.

Several people suffering from this infection may show no symptoms. However, between two weeks and six months after HCV enters your bloodstream, you may notice the following signs, which may last between two and twelve weeks:

• Vomiting
• Clay-colored stools
• Stomach ache
• Dark urine
• Nausea
• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue
• Joint pains
• Jaundice, resulting in the yellowing of the skin and eyes

Hepatitis C infection is caused if you come in contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person. Virus exposure may occur from the following factors:

• Getting pierced or tattoo using non-sterile equipment
• Sharing injection needles and drugs
• Undergoing hemodialysis
• Sharing personal items, such as nail clippers, razor blades, or toothbrushes
• Being stuck with an infected needle
• Engaging in unprotected sex with multiple partners
• A mother may pass on the infection to her child at the time of birth
• Living with an infected person
• If you had an organ transplant or blood transfusion before July 1992 or received clotting factors before 1987

The disease becomes all the more serious if it lasts for a prolonged period. This means that one has developed a chronic form of this disease. Chronic hepatitis C may cause liver cancer, liver failure, or cirrhosis. While the causes are the same, you may notice acute symptoms of hepatitis C as follows:

• Sudden weight loss
• Fluid buildup in the legs (edema) or the abdominal cavity (ascites)
• Esophageal varices resulting in vomiting blood caused by bleeding in the lower esophagus
• Encephalopathy affecting the smooth functioning of your brain
• The appearance of spider-like veins on the skin
• Kidney failure
• Problems in concentration and memory
• Easy bleeding and bruising
• Muscle loss
• Intense itching
• Rashes or hives
• Swelling in the legs

If you have had the infection for 20 or 30 years, it may result in cirrhosis causing scarring of the liver. Almost 75% to 85% of the infected patients may suffer from chronic hepatitis C if not treated on time.

No vaccine prevents this infection. However, practicing personal hygiene like not sharing razors or toothbrushes, having protected sex with one partner, and being cautious while getting a tattoo, manicure, or body piercing is important to avoid developing it.

Chronic hepatitis C is treated with several medicines, such as ribavirin, interferon, and peginterferon. These medications may cause some side effects like depression, fatigue, nervousness, hair loss, low blood counts, and headache.

The most important goal of anti-viral medications is to lead to a sustained virologic response. This means that if your blood tests negative for three months after completing the treatment, you are assumed to be cured of the infection.

Being aware of the common causes and symptoms of hepatitis C helps one seek timely treatment and can save lives.