Getting tested if you have noticed the early warning signs of hepatitis C or if you think you have been exposed to the hepatitis-C virus even if you have no symptoms is essential for the proper treatment of this condition. Here are some early warning signs of hepatitis C that develop in some persons a few weeks after exposure to the infection.

1. Early Warning Signs of Hepatitis C
These signs can occur within two weeks to six months after exposure to the virus. This is called acute hepatitis C infection. This exposure to the virus can occur due to contact with contaminated blood or needles. The early warning signs of Hepatitis C listed below can range from mild to severe:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fatigue
• Yellow discoloration of the eyes or skin
• Dark-colored urine
• Clay-colored stool
• Joint or muscle pain
• Stomach or abdominal pain
• Fever
• Swollen belly
• Itching
• Brain fog

The above symptoms can also be due to other medical conditions and the only way to know if these signs are caused by Hepatitis C is to get yourself tested. Recognizing early warning signs of Hepatitis C can help minimize potential complications that can have an impact on the health of your liver. Some people may develop only mild flu-like symptoms and may also recover from the virus without any treatment. The symptoms of an acute infection usually last for 2-12 weeks.

In most people, acute infection can develop into a chronic infection. When Hepatitis C remains undiagnosed for a long time, the condition might not be detected until severe liver damage. Some symptoms of chronic Hepatitis C infection are

• a build-up of fluid in the legs or abdomen
• vomiting blood
• confusion

Hence, early diagnosis is important to avoid long term complications of this infection. When these early warning signs of hepatitis C are detected, steps can also be taken to prevent further transmission of the virus.

2. Complications of Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C causes inflammation of the liver and can cause serious liver damage in some people. Some of the most common ones are:

• Liver Cirrhosis
  This is a condition in which the liver does not function normally and without treatment can worsen causing the liver to fail. People with liver cirrhosis may show no symptoms for many years.
• Liver Failure
  Untreated Hepatitis C can cause liver failure which may require a liver transplant or result in death. Liver failure is called end-stage liver disease where the liver is unable to perform important functions.
• Liver Cancer
  With chronic Hepatitis C, the chances of liver cancer increase. In the early stages of liver cancer, a person may not have any symptoms. Some advanced-stage symptoms are nausea, vomiting, jaundice, abdominal pain and swelling, and loss of appetite. Detection of cancer at an early stage increases the chance of successful treatment.