Hepatitis C Symptoms
Most people with hepatitis C or hep C have no symptoms when they contract the infection. Those that do have symptoms of hep C infection may experience
- abdominal pain.
- fatigue,
- fever,
- joint pains,
- loss of appetite
- nausea,
- poor appetite, and
- vomiting.
Is hepatitis C contagious?
Hepatitis C is contagious. It is mainly transmitted via blood-to-blood transfer. This transmission can occur by
- sharing needles,
- acupuncture,
- tattoo needles,
- surgical or diagnostic instruments,
- sexual contact, and
- organ transplants.
Casual contact (including exposure to saliva and skin to skin such as with a handshake or) rarely, if ever, can transmit hepatitis C virus.
How long before I know I’m infected and have hepatitis C?
The incubation period (time from exposure to the virus to symptom development) for hep C is variable. The time period may vary from about 2 weeks to 6 months with 6-10 weeks being the average time span. However, about 80% of those infected may not develop acute symptoms.
Symptoms of hepatitis C develop slowly and include
About 70%-90% of infected people do not clear the virus and become chronic carriers. Tests for diagnosing the hepatitis C virus include detecting antibodies to the virus and a PCR test that detects virus antigens.