Symptoms of Viral Hepatitis
Symptoms of Viral Hepatitis: Introduction
Symptoms of viral hepatitis can differ between individuals depending on such variables as the specific type of viral hepatitis, age, medical history, the presence of complications, coexisting diseases, and general health.
Symptoms common to most forms of viral hepatitis include flu-like symptoms, fever, headache, nausea, muscle aches and jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.
Young children often have no symptoms of hepatitis A. In addition to flu-like symptoms, other symptoms of hepatitis A may include dark urine and abdominal pain.
People with hepatitis B may not have symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Hepatitis C rarely causes symptoms until the disease is far advanced and there are complications, such as cirrhosis of the liver. If there are earlier symptoms, they are generally mild and flu-like.
Complications of viral hepatitis can be serious, even life-threatening, and include the development of chronic viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, and increased risk of liver cancer, and liver failure, and death.
Symptoms of such complications as cirrhosis of the liver and liver failure include easy bruising, and a build- up of extra fluid in the legs (edema) or abdomen (ascites). Blood pressure can rise in the abdomen, resulting in portal hypertension, which causes the veins of the esophagus to swell. These bulging veins are called esophageal varices, and they can burst, leading to life-threatening hemorrhage.
In addition, the liver may be unable to filter toxins, which can affect the brain. This is called encephalopathy, and it can result in symptoms, such as confusion, personality changes, or poor cognitive functioning....more about Viral Hepatitis »
Symptoms of Viral Hepatitis
The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources
for Viral Hepatitis includes the 25
symptoms listed below:
Research symptoms & diagnosis of Viral Hepatitis:
Viral Hepatitis: Symptom Checkers
Review the available symptom checkers for these symptoms of Viral Hepatitis:
Viral Hepatitis: Symptom Assessment Questionnaires
Review the available Assessment Questionnaires for the symptoms of Viral Hepatitis:
Viral Hepatitis: Complications
Review medical complications possibly associated with Viral Hepatitis:
Research More About Viral Hepatitis
Do I have Viral Hepatitis?
Viral Hepatitis: Medical Mistakes
Viral Hepatitis: Undiagnosed Conditions
Diseases that may be commonly undiagnosed in related medical areas:
Home Diagnostic Testing
Home medical tests related to Viral Hepatitis:
- Home STD Testing
- Sexuality & Libido: Home Testing:
- Food Allergies & Intolerances: Home Testing:
- Liver Health & Hepatitis: Home Testing
- Digestive-Related Home Testing:
- more home tests...»
Wrongly Diagnosed with Viral Hepatitis?
The list of other diseases or medical conditions
that may be on the differential diagnosis list of alternative diagnoses
for Viral Hepatitis includes:
See the full list of 10
Viral Hepatitis: Research Doctors & Specialists
- Digestive Health Specialists (Gastroenterology):
- Liver Health Specialists (Hepatology):
- more specialists...»
Research all specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.
More about symptoms of Viral Hepatitis:
More information about symptoms of Viral Hepatitis and related conditions:
Other Possible Causes of these Symptoms
Click on any of the symptoms below to see a full list
of other causes including diseases, medical conditions, toxins, drug interactions,
or drug side effect causes of that symptom.
Article Excerpts About Symptoms of Viral Hepatitis:
Viral Hepatitis A to E and Beyond: NIDDK (Excerpt)
Symptoms include
- jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
- fatigue
- abdominal pain
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- diarrhea
- vomiting.
However, some people do not have symptoms until the disease is
advanced.
(Source: excerpt from
Viral Hepatitis A to E and Beyond: NIDDK)
Hepatitis: NWHIC (Excerpt)
Many people infected with viral hepatitis have no symptoms. For
example, about one-third of people infected with HBV have a completely
"silent" disease. When symptoms are present, they may be mild or severe.
The most common early symptoms are mild fever, headache, muscle aches,
fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Later symptoms
may include dark and foamy urine and pale feces; abdominal pain; and
yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice). (Source: excerpt from Hepatitis: NWHIC)
Medical articles and books on symptoms:
These general reference articles may be of interest
in relation to medical signs and symptoms of disease in general:
Full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis
About signs and symptoms of Viral Hepatitis:
The symptom information on this page
attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Viral Hepatitis.
This signs and symptoms information for Viral Hepatitis has been gathered from various sources,
may not be fully accurate,
and may not be the full list of Viral Hepatitis signs or Viral Hepatitis symptoms.
Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Viral Hepatitis may vary on an individual basis for each patient.
Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they
are indeed Viral Hepatitis symptoms.
