Table of contents:
- Hepatitis B signs and symptoms
- Symptoms of acute hepatitis B
- Symptoms of chronic hepatitis B
- Hepatitis B complications
- When should I see a doctor?
Hepatitis B is contagious and is caused by infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). This virus can develop when not treated immediately and trigger quite disturbing conditions. What are the symptoms of hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B signs and symptoms
Generally, hepatitis B does not show distinctive symptoms, making it difficult to detect hepatitis directly. In addition, untreated hepatitis B can progress to chronic hepatitis B that lasts for more than 6 months.
As the disease progresses, the characteristics of hepatitis B that appear are also getting worse. That is why it is important to recognize the signs of hepatitis B based on the severity of the disease in order to get the right treatment.
Symptoms of acute hepatitis B
Acute hepatitis B is an acute viral infection that lasts for less than 6 months. Acute viral hepatitis infection usually causes no symptoms and can be managed with home treatments, such as rest and avoiding risk factors.
On the other hand, this acute infection makes most sufferers unaware that their body has been attacked by the virus. As a result, this disease is difficult to detect, so the transmission rate is even higher.
In people who feel sick, symptoms of acute hepatitis B appear about 1-4 months after infection. However, the signs and symptoms of this acute virus vary from person to person. Even so, there are several signs of hepatitis B that you need to be aware of, namely:
- fatigue,
- loss of appetite,
- stomach pain,
- the color of urine becomes dark like tea,
- pale stool discoloration,
- fever,
- joint pain,
- nausea or vomiting, and
- yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice).
Some of you may have no symptoms, or even feel that your liver is working normally with a slight disturbance. However, it does not rule out that the symptoms of acute hepatitis B can develop into more severe conditions.
Symptoms of chronic hepatitis B
If hepatitis B lasts more than 6 months, it is possible that you have chronic hepatitis B. Chronic hepatitis infection has the potential to lead to serious complications, such as cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Most cases indicate that babies who contract hepatitis B through childbirth will immediately contract chronic hepatitis B. In addition, the symptoms of chronic hepatitis B in infants can last for years.
Meanwhile, the characteristics of hepatitis B that appear also depend on the level of liver damage that has occurred, so it usually varies. The health conditions caused by hepatitis B are also relatively moderate to severe and similar to acute infections, including:
- fatigue,
- stomach ache,
- enlarged spleen (splenomegaly),
- muscle and joint pain,
- encephalopathy,
- loss of appetite,
- dark tea-colored urine,
- change the color of the stool to become pale,
- swollen upper abdomen (ascites), and
- yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice).
Symptoms of chronic hepatitis B can last from several years to more than 30 years. Some people may have inflammation of the liver, while others don't.
Additionally, liver inflammation can develop with or without scarring of the liver (fibrosis). After that, liver inflammation and fibrosis can also cause permanent liver damage (liver failure).
Even though knowing that you are suffering from hepatitis B is quite disturbing, this can actually be an advantage to get treatment as early as possible.
Fortunately, most chronic hepatitis B patients can live longer and healthier lives if they take the recommended hepatitis treatment.
Hepatitis B complications
If you experience the symptoms that have been mentioned, consult a doctor immediately. The reason is, hepatitis B that is not treated immediately can cause damage and hardening of the liver, including:
- heart cancer,
- heart failure,
- cirrhosis of the liver, and
- other diseases, such as inflammation of the blood vessels or anemia.
When complications occur, the symptoms of hepatitis B will get worse. There are a number of characteristics that occur when a person experiences complications of hepatitis B, including:
- loss of consciousness into a coma due to the liver being unable to filter out the poison,
- high blood pressure to lower the number of red blood cells,
- blood difficult to clot and bleeding easily, and
- jaundice due to the liver can't filter out the bilirubin substance.
When should I see a doctor?
If you experience a number of hepatitis B symptoms that have been mentioned, you should consult a doctor, especially when experiencing signs such as:
- jaundice,
- the stomach is swollen due to fluid buildup (ascites), as well
- vomiting and diarrhea.
Severe symptoms usually indicate that liver function tests, such as blood tests and HBsAg tests, need to be done to prevent permanent liver damage.
Also keep in mind that liver disease can be managed if diagnosed early and monitored regularly.
If you have further questions, please contact your doctor to get the right solution for your condition.
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