What are the general symptoms of hepatitis?
Hepatitis can be asymptomatic. A distinction must be made between acute hepatitis and chronic hepatitis. Chronic hepatitis occurs when the virus persists in the organism for more than 6 months (hepatitis B or C).
In addition, an infection that is initially asymptomatic can develop into a chronic infection: years later, severe complications may still occur.
If there are symptoms, they are similar to flu symptoms:
- fever
- tiredness
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- vomiting
- stomachache.
Other, more specific symptoms can also arise, such as yellowing of the skin and the eyes and darker urine (icterus or jaundice).
Because the symptoms of viral hepatitis are similar to those of other diseases, a blood test is essential to be able to make a diagnosis.