Hepatitis is defined as inflammation of the liver. During the initial phase of the disease, most do not have any symptoms, thus it is difficult to tell if one has the disease.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPP51rUqWFg
The condition is generally caused by the hepatitis virus. It can also be caused by medications, infection, toxins and autoimmune processes.
What are the indications?
Most cases of acute hepatitis C do not trigger any symptoms. In some instances, some have symptoms that are mild or severe and include the following:
- Fever
- Diminished appetite
- Fatigue
If the symptoms of hepatitis C arise soon after infection, some of these symptoms might also be present:
- Stomach pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Muscle or joint pain
- Yellowish tinge to the skin or eyes
- Irregularities with bowel or urine movement
The initial signs typically manifest around 6-7 weeks after exposure to the hepatitis C virus.
In some cases, the symptoms develop within 2 weeks of being infected. Others experience a longer delay before any signs arise. It might take from 6 months up to 10 years are longer before any symptoms manifest. The reason for this is that it can take years for the virus to cause damage to the liver.
Management of hepatitis C
In the previous years, there are no drugs available to manage hepatitis C. Nevertheless, over the last few years, medications have been approved to cure the condition.
If there are signs present or the individual is diagnosed with an asymptomatic chronic infection, the doctor will refer the individual to a liver specialist to determine the ideal course of treatment.
The doctor will also monitor the symptoms and conduct a blood test to confirm if certain treatment options are suitable.