What symptom is typically not seen in the icteric stage of hepatitis C?

The icteric stage of hepatitis C is characterized by the presence of jaundice, which is the yellowing of the skin and eyes due to elevated bilirubin levels in the blood. In this stage, several symptoms are commonly associated with the disease progression as the liver's function is impaired.

Fluid retention can occur due to cirrhosis or liver dysfunction leading to ascites. Dark urine is a direct result of increased bilirubin levels being excreted by the kidneys, and clay-colored stools indicate a lack of bile reaching the intestines due to obstruction or liver failure.

While rash can occur in hepatitis C, especially in the context of certain genotypes or co-infection with other viruses, it is not a characteristic symptom of the icteric stage itself. Instead, jaundice, dark urine, and clay-colored stools are definitive signs indicating the progression of liver disease and impairments related specifically to hepatitis C. Thus, a rash is less likely to be observed as a primary feature during the icteric stage of hepatitis C compared to the other symptoms mentioned.