Some people with hepatitis C experience flu-like symptoms. Others don't have any symptoms in the first ten years or so after infection.

Symptoms, if they occur, range from mild to severe. Hepatitis C involves an initial (acute) phase of infection which often goes unnoticed and lasts about 2-6 months. About 5 to 10 per cent of people experience symptoms during this period. During this phase the levels of the virus rise dramatically until the body’s immune response starts producing antibodies. Symptoms appear to be related to immune system response to the virus and may take more than ten years to develop. They may include:

• Pain or discomfort over the liver
• Itchiness or rash
• Aches and pains in joints and muscles
• Poor appetite and indigestion
• Nausea
• Dry eyes and mouth
• Vagueness / brain fog
• Depression, anxiety

If you have experienced some or all of these symptoms and are concerned that you might have been at risk of contracting hepatitis C, visit www.hepccheck.info for a step-through self-assessment or speak to your General Practitioner.