Hepatitis C is a liver infection that can cause serious damage to the organ, and to the overall health. It is characterized by the destruction of a large number of liver cells. This is a serious malady in its chronic form since the causes and symptoms of hepatitis C have not been pinpointed by medical science. It spreads quietly through blood or body fluids. There are many forms of the condition. Here, we will talk about the important causes and symptoms of hepatitis C.

Symptoms
This is a medical condition that exhibits no distinctive symptoms in most people. But between a fortnight and about 6 months after the virus enters the bloodstream, few signs do manifest, which are used to identify the condition. Hepatitis C infections can be acute or short-term or chronic.

When a person has acute hepatitis, typically, the symptoms last for 2 to 12 weeks. Some of the commonly observed symptoms of acute hepatitis C are:

• Dark clay-colored poop
• Dark-colored urine
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Feeling tired without exertion
• Yellow skin and eyes
• Joint pain
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea
• Pain in the stomach
• Vomiting

Few advanced symptoms of hepatitis C infection include:

• Encephalopathy, in which the functions of the brain are affected
• Kidney failure
• Easy bleeding
• Easy bruising
• Itching
• Muscle loss
• Memory loss
• Failure to concentrate
• Vomiting blood due to inner bleeding
• Weight loss
• Fluid buildup in the abdomen
• Spider-like blood vessels on the skin

Causes
Hepatitis C is transmitted from one person to another through the blood or blood products that are infected with the virus. It essentially spreads when the blood from an infected person reaches the bloodstream of another.

Aside from the symptoms of the condition, if you are looking to learn about the causes of hepatitis C, here are the potential ones that you must understand.

• Sharing needles, especially while using drugs
• Getting tattooed or pierced using non-sterile medical instruments and needles. In case you desire to get a tattoo or body piercing done, ensure the practitioner sterilizes the needles and other tools.
• Blood transfusion is a major way that hepatitis C virus (HCV) can spread
• Getting organs such as a kidney, liver, or pancreas during transplants from an HCV-positive donor
• Sharing personal care items, including razors, scissors, nail clippers, or a toothbrush with a person infected with HCV
• Indulging in sex with a person infected with this virus
• Exhibiting high-risk sexual behavior, including having multiple partners or not using condoms when having sex with an infected person.
• Pregnant women can also transmit this disease to their unborn child; however, the risk for this is quite low

To prevent this disease, it is important to be aware of the causes and symptoms of hepatitis C. Also, if you experience any of these aforementioned symptoms, you must consult your health practitioner immediately.