Understanding Hepatitis - Symptoms

What Are the Symptoms?

Many cases of 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:

• Dark urine
• Light-colored stools
• Jaundice
• Generalized itching
• Altered mental state, stupor or coma

Call Your Doctor If:

• Your flu-like symptoms persist or you notice any of the more serious signs; chronic hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis and even death.
• A friend or family member comes down with hepatitis; you may be infected 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.