Hepatitis C is a liver disease that is growing at an alarming rate. It attacks the liver and causes inflammation. The Hepatitis C Virus travels primarily through blood-to-blood contact. This might be by intravenous drug use, unclean medical equipment or blood transfusions where proper screening is not practiced. A pregnant woman might transfer the disease to her baby. People practicing unsafe sex with multiple sex partners, run a higher risk of contracting Hep C. Other than this, being tattooed or pierced with unsterilized tools, getting an accidental needle stick with an infected needle, using an infected person's razor or toothbrush and sharing drug needles with an infected person can cause Hepatitis C. Because the disease shows no apparent symptoms, it is difficult to identify. However, symptom identification at an early stage is vital, because in its later stages, Hep C can cause massive liver damage.
There are some good websites which provide guidance regarding Hepatitis C symptoms. Acute symptoms of Hepatitis C include loss of appetite, nausea, fever, fatigue, muscle or joint pain, weight loss, tenderness around the liver etc. Unless these Hepatitis C symptoms are identified early, a chronic infection can result. Thus, the moment you notice continued fatigue, fever or lack of appetite in spite of normal medication; it is time to consult a specialist. This is even more essential if you are a man above the age of 40, or a heavy drinker because these categories of people are always at higher risk.
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