Signs and symptoms of hepatitis B and C

Signs and symptoms of hepatitis B & C

Signs and symptoms of hepatitis B

Many people who become infected with HBV experience mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, but they may still carry the infectious virus and pass it on to others. When symptoms do appear they are similar to those of hepatitis A and may include:

• A short, mild, flu-like illness;
• nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea;
• loss of appetite;
• weight loss;
• jaundice (yellow skin and whites of eyes, darker yellow urine and pale faeces);
• itchy skin.

• Signs and symptoms of hepatitis C

  Many people do not have symptoms when they become infected with hepatitis C. Symptoms may emerge later, taking anywhere between 15 and 150 days to develop. Occasionally a person will not develop any symptoms and their immune system will successfully clear the virus without their knowledge. An infected person without symptoms can still act as a carrier and pass the virus on to others.
  Symptoms may include:
  • A short, mild, flu-like illness;
  • nausea and vomiting;
  • diarrhoea;
  • loss of appetite;
  • weight loss;
  • jaundice (yellow skin and whites of eyes, darker yellow urine and pale faeces);
  • itchy skin.