liver and gallbladder disorders
Hepatitis B, Acute
Symptoms of Acute Hepatitis B
In general, hepatitis B is more serious than hepatitis A and is occasionally fatal, especially in older people. The infection can be mild or very severe (called Symptoms ). When people with hepatitis B also have hepatitis D, symptoms are more severe. Most people with hepatitis B have typical symptoms of viral hepatitis. These symptoms include Loss of appetite A general feeling of illness (malaise) Fever Nausea and vomiting Jaundice in Adults (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes) Joint pains and itchy red hives on the skin (wheals) are more likely in people with hepatitis B than with other hepatitis viruses. Symptoms last from a few weeks up to 6 months. If fulminant hepatitis develops, people can become very ill very quickly. Toxic substances normally removed by the liver build up in the blood and reach the brain, causing Hepatic Encephalopathy . People may lapse into a coma within days to weeks. Fulminant hepatitis may be fatal without a liver transplant, especially in adults. 