Symptoms
Most people with acute or chronic hepatitis C have few, if any, symptoms and are not even aware they are infected. If symptoms are present, they may include
- Dark urine
- Fatigue
- Jaundice
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea or vomiting
Symptoms of acute hepatitis C, if they appear at all, generally appear 6 to 12 weeks after exposure to the virus.
Despite a lack of apparent symptoms, some people with chronic hepatitis C may develop serious liver disease that is not initially apparent. In the United States, chronic hepatitis C infection is the leading cause of cirrhosis (severe liver disease) and liver cancer, both of which can be fatal.