Understanding Hepatitis -- Symptoms
What Are the Symptoms of Hepatitis?
Many people with hepatitis go undiagnosed, because the disease is mistaken for the flu or because there are no symptoms at all. The most common symptoms of hepatitis are:
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Mild fever
- Muscle or joint aches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain
Less common symptoms include:
Living with a chronic disease like hepatitis C can be depressing and nerve-wracking. Coping with the side effects of treatment isn't easy either. But another difficult aspect of having the disease is how it can interfere with your relationships. "People with hepatitis C experience a lot of stigma," says Alan Franciscus, executive director of the Hepatitis C Support Project in San Francisco. "It can be really hard." You may avoid talking to friends or family about the disease because you're worried...
Read the Coping With Hepatitis C article > >
- Dark urine
- Light-colored stools
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
- Generalized itching
- Altered mental state, stupor, or coma
- Internal bleeding
See Your Doctor About Hepatitis If:
- Your flu-like symptoms persist or you notice any of the symptoms or signs of hepatitis; chronic hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and even death.
- A friend or family member comes down with hepatitis; you may be at risk for infection with the organism that causes the disease.
- Your symptoms follow a visit to a country where hepatitis is common; you may have contracted the disease during your travels.
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