Chronic Stage Symptoms
The infected person may not experience these symptoms for many years. When these symptoms appear, the liver is in a critical state and treatment must be aggressive and commence immediately. If left untreated, the liver will suffer irreversible damage, and this will lead to serious complications or death. The symptoms seen in the chronic stage include:
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Very slow or difficult blood clotting
- Gynecomastia (breast enlargement in men)
- Abdominal pain
- Oesophageal bleeding
- Collection of fluid in the abdomen (ascites)
- Jaundice of the skin and eyes
- Reddening of the hands and palms
- Fluid collection in the legs and feet (edema of the legs)
- Vomiting of blood
- Easy bruising and bleeding
- Confusion
- Clay-colored stool
- Coma
As the condition worsens and the symptoms get more severe, the liver loses its ability to perform most of its usual functions and eventually, the liver fails.
This infection can begin to affect other parts of the body, causing damage to the skin, joints, arteries, kidneys and so on. Therefore, the patient may experience symptoms of arthritis, rashes and pain all over their bodies.