Hepatitis Symptoms
Hepatitis is a medical term indicating “inflammation of the liver”. The most common types of Hepatitis infections are caused by the Hepatitis A, B, and C viruses. Since viral Hepatitis is the leading cause of liver cancer and the number one reason for liver transplants, regular testing for individuals at risk of contracting it is an important part of their sexual and medical health.
Individuals with either Hepatitis B or C exhibit many of the same symptoms, such as:
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Abnormally dark urine
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Clay-colored bowel movements
- Jaundice (yellow color in the skin or the eyes)
- Joint pain
One of primary differences in the two diseases is the rate of how many people are asymptomatic. For Hepatitis B, thirty percent of individuals exhibit no symptoms at all. For Hepatitis C, up to eighty percent of individuals can have the virus and be completely symptom free. Since it can still be transmitted even without symptoms, regular testing is the only way to ensure that you are not infected.