Hepatitis B Symptoms
Hepatitis B, also called serum hepatitis virus is transmitted in the blood
and body fluids of someone who is infected, the same way the human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS, spreads. Yet hepatitis
B is nearly 100 times as infectious as HIV. An estimated 1.25 million Americans
are chronically infected with the virus and as many as 5,000 die each year of a
hepatitis B related illness. Although no cure exists for hepatitis B, a vaccine
can prevent the disease. If you're already infected, taking certain precautions
can help prevent HBV from spreading to others. Symptoms of Hepatitis B
may include:
- Weakness and fatigue.
- Abdominal pain, especially around your liver.
- Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice). This occurs
when your liver isn't able to remove the residue of old red blood cells —
known as bilirubin — from your blood. Eventually, bilirubin builds up and
is deposited in your skin, causing a yellow color.
- Joint pain.
- Loss of appetite.
- Nausea and vomiting.
Hepatitis B can damage your liver and spread to other people even if you
don't have any symptoms. That's why it's important to be tested if you think
you've been exposed to hepatitis B or you engage in behavior that puts you at
risk. Lifelong monitoring of liver function and screening for liver cancer
are important for adults and children with chronic HBV infection. If you have
already developed signs of liver disease, your doctor will refer you to a
specialist for additional care. Hepatitis
B Symptoms to H
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