Typically, only 25 to 30% of people infected with hepatitis C virus have symptoms that are not specific and can be mistaken for influenza, for example.As a result, many people can unknowingly become infected with the hepatitis C virus, as they have never shown symptoms.
Despite this, some of the main signs and symptoms that can indicate hepatitis C are yellow skin, white stools and dark urine, which can appear about 45 days after contact with the virus, so if you think you have this problem, select what you are feeling, to assess the symptoms and know your risk of having hepatitis:
- Normally.
- Patients begin with changes in stool and urine.
- Then fever appears and when the fever begins to decrease.
- The yellow color appears on the skin and eyes.
- All of these symptoms gradually decrease and most infected people develop chronic hepatitis C because they do not cure the disease in a timely manner.
Because the symptoms of different types of hepatitis are very similar, it is important to consult a hepatologist for the necessary tests and confirm that this is type C hepatitis, initiating the most appropriate treatment. Diagnosis is based primarily on tests that evaluate liver function.enzymes and the serology of the hepatitis C virus.
Persistence of hepatitis C virus in the body for long periods of time increases the risk of liver complications, such as the risk of developing cirrhosis or liver cancer, and may require a liver transplant.
Hepatitis C transmission is caused by contact with blood contaminated with the hepatitis C virus, with some of the main forms of transmission:
In addition, hepatitis C can be transmitted through unprotected sex with an infected person, but this route of transmission is rare.Hepatitis C virus cannot be transmitted through sneezing, coughing or cutlery exchange, for example.Learn more about hepatitis C transmission.
Hepatitis C treatment is guided by an infectiousologist or hepatologist and should be performed with antiviral medications, such as interferon, Daklinza and sofosbuvir, for example, for approximately 6 months.
However, if the virus remains in the body after these periods, the person may develop chronic hepatitis C closely related to cirrhosis and liver cancer, requiring other treatments, such as a liver transplant.However, there is a risk that the patient is still infected.with the hepatitis C virus and, when the new organ is received, it also contaminates it, so before transplantation it is necessary to try to eradicate the virus with drugs for long months until transplantation is allowed.
In addition, chronic hepatitis C reduces the physical and mental performance of the patient, compromising the patient’s quality of life, making it very common to find cases of depression associated with chronic hepatitis C.Learn more about hepatitis C treatment.
See also what food should look like to recover faster in the video below: