Another condition linked to hepatitis C is hypothyroidism, which means an underactive thyroid. This can cause fatigue and weight gain. Or, the thyroid can become overactive, meaning hyperthyroidism, which causes weight loss and weakness.
READ: How Do You Know You DON’T Have Hepatitis C?
The brain becomes affected by hepatitis C. About 50 percent of people living with hepatitis C report “brain fog” symptoms. It’s possible that anyone living with hepatitis C could also experience dry mouth, itchy skin, bruising and bleeding, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and cryoglobulinemia, a condition that causes skin, joint and kidney inflammation.
As hepatitis C progresses, it can lead to long-term liver damage. Cirrhosis of the liver happens when the liver is scarred and loses its functionality. Between 5 and 20 percent of people living with hepatitis C develop cirrhosis over a 20 to 30-year period.
Liver cancer is another long-term effect. Between 1 and 5 percent of people with hepatitis C develop liver cancer. There’s also a risk of liver failure, which is when the liver completely stops working. A liver transplant is the only treatment.