Understanding Chronic Hepatitis B: Symptoms, Causes & Risk

According to the Centers for Disease Control, hepatitis B is a contagious virus that causes disease of the liver. Hepatitis B can be transferred from one person to the next through bodily fluids such as semen and blood. Individuals with a condition known as chronic hepatitis B usually develop the virus as babies or children and may have contracted the illness at birth. An individual can go years without developing symptoms of chronic hepatitis B.

Gastrointestinal Symptoms

• The Mayo Clinic states an individual with chronic hepatitis B may develop uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptoms. An individual with chronic hepatitis B may develop abdominal pain. He may experience unusual nausea and vomiting. He may also develop a loss of appetite and subsequent weight loss.

Pain and Exhaustion

• According to the Mayo Clinic, an individual with chronic hepatitis B may develop unusual joint pain without any other apparent cause. She may begin to feel extreme fatigue and develop unexplained weakness.

Other Symptoms

• Jaundice is a clear sign of a problems with the liver. Jaundice involves yellowing of the skin, and jaundice is a symptom of chronic hepatitis B. According to the Mayo Clinic, an individual with chronic hepatitis B may also notice the whites of her eyes turning yellow. The urine of an individual with chronic hepatitis B may become very dark as well.