Causes and Symptoms of Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C or hepatitis C virus is not related to other viruses that cause hepatitis but like other hepatitis viruses, it is contagious. The hepatitis C transmission occurs by a contact with blood or blood products. Sharing of contaminated syringes or needles is the most common mode of hepatitis C transmission. Transfusion with infected blood or blood products, organ transplantation from infected donors and hemodialysis was once a mode of hepatitis C transmission. These can also be regarded as the causes of hepatitis C.

Other less common causes of hepatitis C transmission include the following:

• From mother to infant during childbirth
• By sexual intercourse with an infected person
• Hepatitis C infected needles.

Hepatitis C can’t occur by touching a person with hepatitis C.Some people describes the symptoms of hepatitis C as flulike.The symptoms of hepatitis C may last a few weeks or months.

• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Pain in liver
• Jaundice
• Dark-colored urine
• Pale-colored stool

In case of repeated nausea and vomiting, dehydration may occur along with other symptoms of hepatitis C which include:

• Weakness or fatigue

• Confusion
• Headache
• Irritability
• Non urinating

In general, chronic hepatitis C can cause cirrhosis of the liver which is a condition associated with alcoholism. In this condition healthy liver tissue is replaced by fibrous tissue which is followed by scar like hardening. When this happens, liver fails to function. Early symptoms of cirrhosis include

• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Vomiting  with blood
• Mental disturbances
• Itchy skin
• Jaundice
• Fluid retention in the body