A Curious Hepatitis C Symptom

The Hepatitis C virus has its share of unusual symptoms. More common symptoms include stomach pains, diminishing appetite (which is frequently accompanied by weight loss), dark urine, and nagging fatigue. But one of the symptoms you don’t normally associate with Hepatitis C is itching.

At least fifteen percent of all Hepatitis C sufferers experience itching that’s uncomfortable enough to encourage them to see their health care provider. This itching, called pruritus, is not simply a dry skin condition. It’s a genuine symptom of living with Hepatitis C.

Those with Hepatitis C often report that the itching gets so bad it feels as if they’re itching from the inside out. In fact, some report that it feels as if their organs are itching. Although for some, this itching sensation is confined to specific areas of the body, usually the hands or feet, for others it covers their entire body. Unfortunately, most of those who experience this symptom, in its most serious form, have already experienced some serious liver damage.

Researchers and doctors have come to the conclusion that this intense itching is the result of elevated levels of toxins in the body, including bilirubin, that the dysfunctioning liver is no longer able to control. A failing liver can no longer process the bile, which it produces to assist with the digestion of fats. As a result, the liver becomes clogged. This causes jaundice, and the jaundice causes the itching.

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