Symptoms:

The symptoms of hepatitis include:

• Abdominal pain or distention
• Breast development in males
• Dark urine and pale or clay-colored stools
• Fatigue
• General itching
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
• Loss of appetite
• Low-grade fever
• Nausea and vomiting
• Weight loss

Many people with hepatitis B or C do not have symptoms when first infected and can still develop liver failure later. If you have any risk factors for either type of hepatitis, you should be tested periodically.

Signs and tests:

A physical examination may show yellowing of the skin, an enlarged and tender liver, or fluid in the abdomen (ascites) that can become infected.

Your doctor may order laboratory tests, including:

• Hepatitis virus serologies
• Liver function tests
• Autoimmune blood markers
• Abdominal ultrasound
• Liver biopsy to determine severity of the liver damage
• Paracentesis if fluid in your abdomen is present