The Hepatitis Symptoms List

Hepatitis symptoms differ depending on what type of viral hepatitis is present and what stage of hepatitis the person is experiencing. This page is broken down into two sections. Section one includes hepatitis symptoms that are shared among the main types of hepatitis. Section two is a list of the different types of hepatitis and their basic differences.

Common Hepatitis Symptoms:

Hepatitis Symptom 1 - Hepatitis

This might sound funny, but the primary symptom of hepatitis is hepatitis. So what is hepatitis? It is the inflammation (or ?itis?) of the Hepa (or liver).

Hepatitis Sympom 2 – The Acute Hepatitis Symptoms Phase

Symptoms last several weeks and can include:

• Flu like symptoms
• Light colored stool
• Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
• Dark urine
• Extreme fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting and abdominal pain

Hepatitis Symptom 3 – The Chronic Stage

A Chronic Active carrier has progressive symptomatic disease that continues to damage the liver. Symptoms include malaise, weight loss, loss of appetites, and often jaundice. Passive carriers show no symptoms, but are capable of infecting others. During the chronic stage supplements like Milk Thistle can be very beneficial and are traditionally recommended by health care providers.

Differentiating Hepatitis Symptoms:

Hepatitis A Symptoms (HAV)

Formerly called “Infectious Hepatitis” Hepatitis A is a common infection in conditions of poor sanitation and overcrowding. Although transmission is mainly via fecal-contaminated food and water, virus matter on the hands and in the blood pose a potential hazard. The incubation period is 15 – 45 days. Onset is abrupt and commonly includes a fever, which can reach as high as 100.5ºF. This is unlike Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, where the incubation period is longer. It is believed that around 150,000 Americans are infected with HAV per year, but a chronic carrier state has not been identified. Most cases are relatively mild, and complications are uncommon.

Hepatitis B Symptoms (HBV)

Hepatitis B Virus, also referred to as “HBV, Serum Hepatitis, or Long-Incubation hepatitis,” is the major bloodborne pathogen presenting risk in modern day health clinics. In 1992 the CDCP estimated that 6,800 health care workers became infected with HBV. Around 250 of them became hospitalized and as a result of complications, approximately 100 died. The incubation process for HBV is 50 – 180 days. During this period, the virus appears in the blood and saliva and it may appear in the fecal mater, urine, semen, tears, and even the sweat. During this period the infection may be spread even though no symptoms are present.

HBV often begins showing with flu-like symptoms that are mild in nature, generally including the Acute Hepatitis Symptoms list posted above. Around 70% of the individuals that recover from the acute stage are infectious for three months or more after symptoms subside. 5% to 10% become lifelong carriers. These carriers of the virus may develop cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer. To help keep the liver health, many heath care providers recommend that chronic hepatitis patients modify their diet and take Milk Thistle to help keep the liver in as healthy a state as possible.

Hepatitis C Symptoms (HCV)

Hepatitis C virus is transmitted through exposure to contaminated blood and is mostly found in adults. HCV is the common form of “blood transfusion-associated” hepatitis and a large number of infections are found among IV drug users as well. The incubation period is 20 – 90 days with most cases occurring 5 to 10 weeks after exposure. The infectious stage lasts from just after exposure through the chronic stage. The acute stage is insidious and displays symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, anorexia, and jaundice. Around half of Hepatitis C patients develop chronic hepatitis and many of these progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Again, one of the best known preventatives for these chronic stage hepatitis c symptoms is Milk Thistle, an herb that is prescribed by most health care physicians for dealing with the chronic stages of hepatitis. Paying attention to diet can also play a huge roll in long-term liver health.

Other Liver Disease Symptom Resources

If you are looking for more information on liver disease symptoms please feel free to read our posted article. If you are interested in finding out about an alternative medical perspecive for hepatitis, please read our article “Understanding Hepatitis C Through the Eyes of Oriental Medicine.”

DISCLAIMER:
This information has not been reviewed by the FDA, and as such should not be taken as medical advice or medical fact. We request that all practitioners refer to their clinical training and experience when evaluating the true effectiveness and use of these herbs with their patients. (The organs listed in our literature, such as Liver, refer to the common Traditional Oriental Medical functional groups, and may not directly relate to the anatomical counterpart or commonly known functions at all times.) When in doubt, please refer to such texts as the Herbal PDR and peer reviewed journals for the most recent list of clinical studies as well as side affects and contra-indications. We ask that practitioners please read all the provided information in order to best acquaint themselves with all the uses and indications for this product.