- fever
- fatigue
- low appetite
- abdominal pain
- joint pain
- nausea
- vomiting
- dark-colored urine
- grey feces
- jaundice, which causes yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes
The World Health Organization (WHO), reports that about 80 percent of HCV patients show no symptoms and may not realize they have it until the virus becomes chronic or causes liver damage.
People who have alcoholic hepatitis may experience the following:
- jaundice
- malaise, or a general feeling of not being well
- low appetite
- tenderness in the liver
- systemic inflammatory response syndrome, which involves fever, fast heart rate, and fast breathing
Diagnosis
HCV can be diagnosed through a series of blood tests. The first test will detect HCV antibodies in the blood. Antibodies will be present if someone previously had HCV. If the test comes back positive, doctors will administer a second test to see if the virus has caused a chronic infection.
There are no tests for alcoholic hepatitis. Instead doctors base a diagnosis off of the following:
- a history of excessive alcohol consumption
- symptoms of liver disease
- CT or MRI scans, which help rule out other causes of liver disease and help identify cirrhosis
- enzyme liver function tests
- biopsy to assess the severity of fat and fibrosis in the liver
Treatment
Antiviral drugs can treat most cases of HCV. As mentioned before, it is also a good idea to quit drinking because alcohol can interfere with some antivirals.
Additionally, abstinence from alcohol is the most effective way to reduce liver damage. If this is done early in the disease, your effects may