Hepatitis B history and symptoms

Hepatitis Main Page
Hepatitis B
Home
Patient Information
Overview
Historical Perspective
Pathophysiology
Causes
Differentiating Hepatitis B from other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Screening
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Diagnosis
Diagnostic Criteria
History and Symptoms
Physical Examination
Laboratory Findings
CT
MRI
Ultrasound
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Surgery
Primary Prevention
Hepatitis B Vaccination
Hepatitis B Vertical transmission
Secondary Prevention
Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy
Future or Investigational Therapies
Case Studies
Case #1
Hepatitis B history and symptoms On the Web
Most recent articles
Most cited articles
Review articles
CME Programs
Powerpoint slides
Images
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Hepatitis B history and symptoms All Images X-rays Echo & Ultrasound CT Images MRI
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse
NICE Guidance
FDA on Hepatitis B history and symptoms
CDC on Hepatitis B history and symptoms
Hepatitis B history and symptoms in the news
Blogs on Hepatitis B history and symptoms
Directions to Hospitals Treating Hepatitis B
Risk calculators and risk factors for Hepatitis B history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Symptoms

Approximately, 50% of adults who have acute HBV infections are asymptomatic. However, clinical symptoms occur more often in adults than in infants or children, who usually have an asymptomatic acute course.

Symptoms can include:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Abdominal pain
• Dark urine
• Clay-colored bowel movements
• Joint pain
• Yellowish discoloration of the eyes and skin

Hepatitis B virus infection may either be acute (self-limited) or chronic (long-standing). Persons with self-limited infection clear the infection spontaneously within weeks to months.

Children

Children are less likely than adults to clear the infection. More than 95% of people who become infected as adults or older children will stage a full recovery and develop protective immunity to the virus. However, only 5% of newborns that acquire the infection from their mother at birth will clear the infection. Of those infected between the age of one to six, 70% will clear the infection. When the infection is not cleared, one becomes a chronic carrier of the virus.

Acute Infection

Acute infection with hepatitis B virus is associated with acute viral hepatitis - an illness that begins with general ill-health, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, body aches, mild fever, dark urine, and then progresses to development of jaundice. It has also been noted that itchy skin all over the body has been an indication as a possible symptom of all hepatitis virus types. The illness lasts for a few weeks and then gradually improves in most affected people. A few patients may have more severe liver disease (fulminant hepatic failure), and may die as a result of it. The infection may also be entirely asymptomatic and may go unrecognized.

Chronic Infection

Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus may be either asymptomatic or may be associated with a chronic inflammation of the liver (chronic hepatitis), leading to cirrhosis over a period of several years. This type of infection dramatically increases the incidence of liver cancer.

Co-infection with Hepatitis D

Hepatitis D infection usually only occurs with a concomitant infection with hepatitis B. Co-infection with hepatitis D increases the risk of liver cirrhosis and subsequently, liver cancer.

Polyarteritis nodosa is more common in people with hepatitis B infection.