The main hepatitis B symptoms include headache, general discomfort, loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue, pain in the upper abdomen, and yellowing of the skin and eyes in more severe cases.
In most cases, hepatitis B does not cause noticeable symptoms, especially during the first days after infection. When symptoms do occur, they are often mistaken for the flu, which can delay diagnosis and treatment.
Key hepatitis B symptoms
The main symptoms of hepatitis B include:
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Yellowing of the skin and eyes
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Pain in the upper abdomen
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Abdominal swelling
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Pale, clay-colored, or gray stools
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Dark urine
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Persistent low-grade fever
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Joint pain
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Loss of appetite
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Frequent nausea or dizziness
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Extreme fatigue
If hepatitis B symptoms are suspected, it is important to see a hepatologist or primary care doctor for testing to confirm the infection.
Hepatitis B symptom test
A symptom test can help assess the likelihood of having hepatitis B based on the signs a person is experiencing.
This tool is meant only as a guide. It does not provide a diagnosis and should never replace an evaluation by a hepatologist, infectious disease specialist, or primary care physician.
How hepatitis B spreads
Common ways hepatitis B can be transmitted include:
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Unprotected sexual contact
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Using contaminated manicure tools, such as cuticle clippers
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Sharing needles or syringes
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Getting piercings or tattoos with unsterilized equipment
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Receiving a blood transfusion before 1992
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Transmission from mother to child during childbirth
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Accidental skin injuries from contaminated needles
Hepatitis B spreads through contact with blood or other bodily fluids contaminated with the HBV virus. Saliva can transmit the virus through bites, but not through kissing or casual contact. Other fluids such as tears, sweat, urine, stool, and breast milk do not transmit hepatitis B.
How to protect yourself
The best way to prevent infection is through the hepatitis B vaccine. It is also important to avoid unprotected sex and use gloves when handling blood or bodily fluids.
Additionally, make sure manicure salons, piercing studios, and tattoo parlors follow proper hygiene and sterilization practices, since contaminated tools can cut the skin and allow the virus to enter the bloodstream.
Hepatitis B treatment
Treatment for acute hepatitis B usually involves rest, a light diet, staying hydrated, and avoiding alcohol. In most cases, the infection resolves on its own.
When hepatitis B becomes chronic, meaning the virus stays in the liver for more than 180 days, treatment may involve antiviral medications for about one year to reduce the risk of severe liver complications.
Adults who are infected and otherwise healthy often experience a mild form of the disease, with the immune system eliminating the virus naturally. However, children infected during childbirth or breastfeeding are at higher risk of developing chronic hepatitis B and complications such as cirrhosis, ascites, or liver cancer.