Symptoms of hepatitis

Short-term (acute) hepatitis often has no noticeable symptoms, so you may not realise you have it.

If symptoms do develop, they can include:

  • muscle and joint pain
  • a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above
  • feeling and being sick
  • feeling unusually tired all the time
  • a general sense of feeling unwell
  • loss of appetite
  • abdominal (tummy) pain
  • dark urine
  • pale, grey-coloured poo
  • itchy skin
  • yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice)

See your GP if you have any persistent or troublesome symptoms that you think could be caused by hepatitis.

Long-term (chronic) hepatitis also may not have any obvious symptoms until the liver stops working properly (liver failure) and may only be picked up during blood tests .

In the later stages it can cause jaundice, swelling in the legs, ankles and feet, confusion , and blood in your stools or vomit.

Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018