What should you know about hepatitis C symptoms?

A person with hepatitis C may feel well, particularly early in the infection, so symptoms alone cannot confirm or exclude it. When symptoms occur, they can include reduced energy, poor appetite, nausea, discomfort beneath the ribs, darker urine, lighter stools, itchy skin, or yellowing of the skin and eyes. Many of these features have other explanations. Fatigue can be especially nonspecific; its presence does not mean that a person has hepatitis C. Testing is the way to clarify the cause.

Record when symptoms began and mention any past blood exposure, medical procedure, tattoo, piercing, or shared injecting equipment to a clinician. Arrange a [GP Consultation](/treatments/consultations-and-assessment/gp-consultation/) if symptoms persist or a risk event concerns you. Your clinician may discuss hepatitis testing and a [Liver Function Test](/treatments/diagnostics-and-screening/liver-function-test/). More detail is available on [Hepatitis C](/conditions/hepatitis-c/).

Get urgent medical help for yellow eyes with confusion, severe drowsiness, vomiting that prevents fluids, marked abdominal swelling, vomiting blood, or black stools. Prompt review is also sensible for new jaundice, very dark urine, or rapidly worsening weakness. If tiredness is the main concern, the [Fatigue](/symptoms/fatigue/) page may help you describe it accurately.

Ask which symptoms need immediate assessment, whether hepatitis C testing fits your history, which blood tests are needed, and what other causes should be considered. Ask when to return if symptoms change or your initial tests are unclear.