En Español (Spanish Version)
by Wood D
Symptoms of Viral Hepatitis
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A
may or may not cause symptoms. Adults are more likely to have symptoms than children. Incubation is 15-45 days. Hepatitis A does not progress to chronic liver disease.
Hepatitis B
With
hepatitis B
, symptoms usually appear within 25-180 days following exposure to the virus. Hepatitis B may progress to carrier state or chronic liver disease.
Hepatitis C
Most people with
hepatitis C
have no symptoms. Over time, however, the disease can cause serious liver damage. Hepatitis C may progress to chronic hepatitis. Incubation is 15-60 days.
Common Symptoms
Symptoms common to all types of viral hepatitis include:
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
- Aches and pains
- Headache
- Jaundice
(yellowing of the eyes and skin)
- Darker-colored urine
- Lighter-colored stool
- Itching
- Rash
References
Viral hepatitis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. Available at:
http://www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/hepatitis/index.asp
.
Updated October 15, 2010. Accessed January 19, 2011.
What I need to know about Hepatitis B. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse website. Available at:
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hepb%5Fez/index.htm
.
Published April 2009. Accessed January 19, 2011.