Men may contract the liver infection Hepatitis B by abusing alcohol, sharing infected needles in drug use or having unprotected sex. Infant males may become infected from an infected mother through the umbilical cord. About 70 percent of men who have Hepatitis B show symptoms of the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). About one million adults have the infection in the U.S. as of 2009, with exact numbers not known. Many people with Hepatitis B display no symptoms so they don't realize they have the disease.
Jaundice
Men with Hepatitis B may develop jaundice. The CDC states yellowing of the whites of the eyes and yellowing skin and bodily fluids are symptoms of jaundice that may come about because of Hepatitis B. The incidence of jaundice in newborns has dropped off by 82 percent since Hepatitis B vaccines have been in wide use in the U.S.starting in 1990.
Flu-like Symptoms
Men with the Hepatitis B infection may think they have the flu. Flu-like symptoms such as fever and chills, joint pain and extreme feelings of tiredness are all possible symptoms of Hepatitis B according to Epigee.org. You may feel nauseated, have stomach pain and lose your appetite as a result of the disease. Since all these symptoms are shared with the common flu, they may be dismissed without finding the cause could be Hepatitis B.
Urine and Stool Color
Symptoms of Hepatitis B can include changes in the color of your urine and stool. Epigee.org states your urine will darken to a tea-like color, while your stool tends to lighten to a gray, clay-like color and consistency. The site also states the display of these symptoms can take from 9 to 21 weeks after the original transmission of the disease.
Stomach Pain, Vomiting, Hives
Abdominal pain and vomiting are symptoms of Hepatitis B infection. The CDC warns that lower abdominal pain could be a symptom of the disease. According to Planned Parenthood, you may break out in a skin rash or hives.
Lack of Symptoms
About 30 percent of adult Hepatitis B infections occur without symptoms. Many cases of the disease contracted in infancy show no symptoms at all. The CDC warns this chronic form of Hepatitis B can lead to liver disease and cancer and can be transmitted to others without the infected person realizing he even has Hepatitis B.
