Symptoms

When someone first becomes infected with the hepatitis B virus, they may develop jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), loss of appetite, pain in the abdomen, malaise, nausea, vomiting, fever, or muscle and joint aches. In some cases, people can develop a form of acute liver failure called fulminant hepatitis, which can be very serious or even fatal. However, many people do not notice any symptoms at all when they become infected.

Active chronic hepatitis B virus infection may also cause ongoing or intermittent symptoms of hepatitis.

This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.