How to Identify Hepatitis B Symptoms

Nearly 60,000 Americans are infected with Hepatitis B every year. Many people who have this potentially deadly disease aren’t even aware of it. Infected people often don’t have symptoms. This can allow them to unknowingly spread the disease to others. The good news is Hepatitis B is preventable.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

How to Identify Hepatitis B Symptoms

1. Understand the nature of Hepatitis B. Hepatitis B is a virus that attacks the liver and can cause a lifelong infection, cirrhosis of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure or even death. 30% of infected people have no signs or symptoms. Infected children rarely have symptoms.

2. Learn the symptoms of hepatitis B. Symptoms include fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting , joint pain and jaundice (the skin and whites of the eyes appear yellow). Jaundice is a major indicator of hepatitis B but it often doesn’t appear until the other symptoms have started to go away. Hepatitis B can also cause constant discomfort on the right side of the abdomen under the rib cage, where the liver is located.

3. Find out if you are at risk. Hepatitis B is transmitted through the blood of an infected person. Risk groups include people who have multiple sex partners, I.V. drug users, anyone who shares a home with an infected person, infants born to infected mothers and health care workers who are exposed to blood. If you suspect that you may have hepatitis B, contact your doctor right away. A blood test can determine whether or not you are infected.

Tips & Warnings

• You can protect yourself by getting the hepatitis B vaccine.
• If you have multiple sex partners, use latex condoms.
• Don’t share personal items that may have blood on them like a razor or toothbrush.

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