Acute hepatitis C
Acute hepatitis C is a short-term infection of the liver caused by a virus that enters the bloodstream.
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Acute hepatitis C is a new, short-term infection of the liver, which is the organ responsible for filtering toxins from your blood. When this specific virus infects the liver, it causes inflammation, which is the body's natural reaction to being attacked or injured.
This condition starts when the hepatitis C virus enters your bloodstream. Because it is the 'acute' phase, it refers to the first six months after someone is first exposed to the virus, before the body either clears the infection on its own or the virus settles into a long-term, chronic state.
Common Symptoms
- Yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes, known as jaundice
- Dark-colored urine that looks like tea
- Feeling very tired or worn out
- Stomach pain, specifically on the upper right side where the liver is located
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
- Joint pain
- Pale or clay-colored bowel movements