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Lots of people who have hepatitis C don't get any symptoms for many years. So, you may not know you have the virus until it has started to damage your liver. Most people who have hepatitis C don't know they have it.¹ They might get mild symptoms, like feeling tired, or they might not get any symptoms at all.² Also, the symptoms can come and go. And you may not get all of them.

The main symptoms of hepatitis C are listed below. You are more likely to get them if you've had hepatitis C for a long time and it has affected your liver.^{1 2 3}

• Your skin and the white parts of your eyes turn yellow. Doctors call this jaundice. It happens because a chemical called bilirubin builds up in your body.
• You feel tired. This may happen because your muscles aren't getting enough energy from the food you eat.
• Your urine becomes darker.
• You have pain in the upper right side of your abdomen.
• You don't feel hungry and you lose weight.
• You feel sick to your stomach.

These symptoms happen because your liver isn't working properly. Your liver does many jobs in your body. So, if it isn't working, you can get lots of different symptoms. Some people with hepatitis C say it feels like they have the flu.

If the hepatitis C virus keeps damaging your liver over a long time, you may get more serious symptoms. For more information, see What will happen to me?

Most people who have hepatitis C don't know they are infected.⁴ The only way to find out for sure is to have a blood test. For more information, see Should I be tested for hepatitis C?

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.