Hepatitis C: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments

5. Chronic Hepatitis C Symptoms

As many as 20 percent of people with chronic hepatitis C and liver damage have significantly worsening symptoms within five years. Symptoms can include fluid collecting in the abdomen, called ascites, abnormally large veins lining the esophagus, and portal hypertension, which is high blood pressure in the veins leading to the liver.

Depending on the extent of the illness, people with chronic hepatitis C may also show signs of end-stage liver failure, including muscle wasting, clubbing of the fingers, edema in the ankles, petechiae, enlarged liver and spleen, and scant body hair.