Hepatitis B; Transmission, Prevention, Symptoms, & Treatment

Signs and symptoms of Hepatitis B

As noted above, the signs and symptoms of hepatitis B are triggered by our own immune system fighting against the disease. This causes severe liver injury, which sometimes leads to hepatocellular carcinoma or cirrhosis. In some cases, patients develop asymptomatic illness and go through a chronic process of inflammation. In other cases, patients develop an acute symptomatic disease.

In the latter case, we can have a type of icteric hepatitis similar to hepatitis A. The most common symptoms include:

• Anorexia: It is basically low appetite levels. It sometimes makes the disease worse by compromising the correct nutrition of the patient.
• Nausea: It is ubiquitous, sometimes accompanied by vomiting.
• Low-grade fever: As noted, it is usually not very high. Still, it points out an infectious cause and should be evaluated along with jaundice and hepatomegaly to consider the diagnosis of viral hepatitis.
• Myalgia: This is the clinical name of muscle pain, usually accompanied by muscle weakness and fatigability.
• Disordered sensation: These patients would commonly report changes in their smell and gustatory acuity. This contributes to their aversion to food.
• Abdominal pain: It is intermittent, usually mild or moderate, and located in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, in the same spot where the liver is located. It is sometimes found in the middle of the abdomen, just below the sternum.