Hepatitis C is a viral infection present in the liver. It is not easy for the body to get rid of this disease and generally Hep C runs the risk of becoming chronic. The problem is that Hep C doesn’t show any immediate symptoms. Here are some rarer symptoms of Hepatitis C that we can look out for. 

Early signs of Hepatitis C
Although Hep C symptoms may not appear for a very long time, if they do, they may resemble flu symptoms. Some of these symptoms are:

• Dark-colored urine 
• Pain in the belly 
• Tiredness 
• High body temperature 
• Pain in the joints
• The feeling of nausea and vomiting 
• Low appetite.

These symptoms generally emerge after 2 to 12 weeks of being exposed to the virus. 

Rare symptoms of Hepatitis C
If a person remains undiagnosed and untreated for a long period, they may develop chronic Hep C. This can often lead to liver cancer or cirrhosis. Along with the early signs, these are some rarer symptoms of chronic Hep C:

• A person bruises and bleeds easily 
• They are drowsy and have slurred speech. This is known as Hepatic encephalopathy.
• Rashes on the skin or sudden hives
• Itchiness 
• They see spidery blood vessels form under the skin. This is known as Spider angiomas.
• Inflammation in the legs 
• Sudden weight loss 
• The belly fills up with fluid. This is known as Ascites.

Untreated Hep C signs 
If Hep C has remained untreated for almost 20 or 30 years, one may suffer from a condition called cirrhosis. This is the scarring of liver tissue and can become fatal if not diagnosed. Some symptoms that may emerge are:

• Easy bleeding and bruising 
• Excess water retention inside the body 
• Jaundice — the skin and eyes start turning yellow.

Risk factors of Hepatitis C

Used needles  
The most common way of getting this disease is by using a used needle. This can happen if people take illegal drugs. Almost 80% of people are likely to be affected by Hep C once they start doing drugs. 

Blood transfusions  
If a person had a blood transfusion before 1992, they may have been exposed to the virus. It was in 1992 that a new screening test was sent in, and that is when tests related to Hep C improved. 

Close contact 
If a person is in constant close contact with someone who suffers from Hep C, it puts the non-infected person at risk too of contracting the disease. 

Unhygienic needles used for piercings and tattoos  
If a person has had too many piercings or tattoos and is unaware about the hygiene of the needles, they may face a high risk of developing Hep C. This is why it is important to always check the needle before one gets something done. 

These rarer symptoms of Hepatitis C only appear after a long time but immediate action to curb them is imperative.