Hepatitis C is caused due to an infection that leads to the inflammation of the liver. It might take longer for a person infected with hep C to experience any signs or symptoms. Due to this, many symptoms get unnoticed, prolonging the treatment process. However, a few early warning symptoms of h epatitis C  should never be ignored, and these are listed below.

1. Abdominal pain
The liver is located near the abdomen on the upper right side. As h epatitis C  is an infection that affects the liver, it can result in pain in the abdomen. However, pain in the abdomen can also be caused due to other health conditions such as gallstones, chronic liver disease, or issues with the pancreas. If you experience persistent pain in your stomach, consult your doctor at the earliest.

2. Changes in appetite
As h epatitis C  progresses, it affects or impairs the functioning of the liver. This causes a buildup of fluid in the stomach known as ascites. This could cause your abdomen to become balloon-shaped, or you might feel full even though you might have eaten only a little or not at all. Abdominal discomfort, including bloating, is most often an indicator of digestive issues, and you should consult your doctor.

3. Weight loss
The changes in appetite mentioned above would have an impact on your weight. Hence, if you notice that you are losing weight without any diet or physical activity changes, it could be due to a h epatitis C  infection. Also, a chronic infection of hep C would result in scarring of the liver, known as cirrhosis. This condition would also cause loss of appetite, vomiting, and digestion abnormalities resulting in weight loss.

4. Yellowing of the skin and eyes
Red blood cells are destroyed by the body as they get older. When this happens, a yellow substance known as bilirubin is released, which is excreted from the body by the liver. Due to damage to the liver caused by h epatitis C , bilirubin will not be eliminated from the body properly. Bilirubin will cause discoloration or a yellow tint to the skin and eyes when it accumulates in the body. It might also result in darker urine and lighter-colored stool.

5. Swelling in the legs
Another sign of hep C is edema or the swelling of the legs, ankles, or feet due to fluid buildup. Most often, your doctor might prescribe a diuretic or water pills to help you get rid of the excess fluid in your body. Your legs could also appear puffy, dimpled, or shiny.

Although some of these symptoms could be indicators of other health conditions, they should not be ignored. Any unusual symptoms or changes to your health should be reported to your doctor at the earliest for timely treatment.