Chronic Fatigue
Those infected with hepatitis C may experience symptoms of chronic fatigue. This is a feeling of lethargy and lack of energy that does not improve with rest or sleep.
According to research, 50 to 70 percent of individuals with chronic hepatitis C report symptoms of fatigue. The intensity of the unexplained tiredness varies from individual to individual. Some patients can accomplish a full day of work yet feel fatigued by the end of the day. Others cannot work and spend an inordinate amount of time resting. However, sleep does not appear to relieve the exhaustion. Instead, fatigue associated with chronic HCV often improves with effective treatment alongside other symptoms.
Based on prior research on HCV, it is believed that central fatigue is caused by a combination of inflammatory and neurochemical variables. Chronic hepatitis C infection is associated with cognitive, neurophysiological, and cerebral magnetic resonance anomalies. It is a result of inflammatory processes during chronic inflammation of the liver.
In addition to being a symptom of the illness, tiredness is also a side effect of some anti-HCV drugs. Interferon and ribavirin, two medicines used to treat hepatitis C, often cause severe weariness. Other post-treatments and medications can also worsen this symptom.
