Acute vs Chronic hepatitis B
People who get hepatitis B as an adult will usually have a short term (acute) illness. Their immune system will often get rid of the virus naturally, and they won’t have any ongoing problems. Some people will have symptoms, and some may have no symptoms at all. This means they may not know that they have the virus.
People with chronic hepatitis B often have no obvious symptoms. Most people with chronic hepatitis B contract the virus at birth or during early childhood. This means they may not realise any symptoms they have are abnormal, because they seem normal to them.
Even if you have chronic hepatitis B and feel healthy, the virus can still cause serious damage to your liver.
Common symptoms of hepatitis B
If present, symptoms of acute hepatitis B can range from mild to severe. They may include:
- Tiredness and weakness.
- Loss of appetite.
- Feeling sick in the stomach (nausea) and vomiting.
- Flu-like symptoms such as chills and low-grade fever.
- Stomach (belly) pain, especially under the right lower ribs.
- Joint and muscle pain.
- Yellowish discolouration of the skin and eyes (jaundice).
Over time, symptoms of chronic hepatitis B in some people may vary in their severity and intensity.
Symptoms of hepatitis B may be similar to symptoms of other health problems. If you feel you are at risk of hepatitis B, ask your doctor about testing and vaccination against hepatitis B.
If you notice any symptoms that are unusual for you, visit your doctor.
