Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus. The disease can be fatal due to the damage to the liver (cirrhosis), or because of subsequent liver cancer, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Most of the common symptoms of the disease stem from the degeneration the virus causes in the liver.
Jaundice
Patients who contract hepatitis B often complain of a yellowing of their skin and sclera (white part of the eye), according to FamilyDoctor.org. This yellow discoloration is a condition called jaundice. The virus replicates in the liver and has been reported to cause severe damage to the organ. This liver damage, or cirrhosis, causes a yellowish pigment called bilirubin to leak from the ruptured liver cells. The pigment then gets stored in the skin and this leads to jaundice.
Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting have been listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as symptoms associated with the hepatitis B virus. Many viral diseases cause some nausea and vomiting, but the hepatitis B virus also damages the liver. Without the liver, bile is not produced and without bile, normal digestion of fat is hindered. This process may add to the nausea and vomiting experienced by the patient.
Abdominal Pain
As the disease ravages the liver, the organ becomes inflamed. This inflammation leads to abdominal pain, which is a symptom of hepatitis B, listed by the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC). The abdominal pain is usually located in the area of the liver, which is in the right upper portion of the abdomen.
Flu-like Symptoms
The hepatitis B virus can cause fatigue, fever and loss of appetite, according to FamilyDoctor.org. These symptoms are found in numerous viral infections and are usually a result of the patient's immune system responding to the viral infection.
Dark-Colored Urine
Patients suffering from hepatitis B may notice that their urine is darkening in color. According to the NDDIC, this is a common symptom in patients with hepatitis B. The dark color is from bilirubin being leaked from the damaged liver and being excreted by the kidney.
Pale-Colored Stools
The stools of patients with hepatitis B can become light or pale in color, according to the WHO. The normal dark color of stools is due to the presence of bile and bilirubin in the stool. In a patient with a damaged liver (like a hepatitis B patient), there is less bile and bilirubin being secreted into the colon. Therefore, these substances cannot be incorporated into the stool.
Spider Angiomas
With people suffering from chronic, or long-term, hepatitis, there is a chance of developing spider-like blood vessels on the surface of the skin. According to the NDDIC, these new vessel formations are termed, spider angiomas. These angiomas form in the trunk of the patient, usually near or above the liver.
