Did you know that the federal government estimates about 850,000 people have hepatitis B in the U.S.? This being said, the HHS fears this number may be much higher. In fact, it estimates the number could be as high as 2.2 million. One reason why the numbers are so unpredictable is that people with hepatitis B may be misdiagnosed or show mild symptoms that they ignore. We are going to list the signs of hepatitis B below. If you have any of these symptoms, schedule an appointment with us for a test.
Abdominal Pain
Hepatitis affects the liver. As such, you may experience abdominal pain, especially on the right side of the abdomen. Any abdominal pain should be diagnosed ASAP, as this can also be a sign of cancer.
Appetite Loss
Along with the painful abdomen, you may also experience appetite loss. Unfortunately, this does not help your body fight hepatitis B because you lose strength if you do not consume enough calories.
Clay-colored BMs
One definite sign of liver problems caused by hepatitis B is clay-colored or gray bowel movements. Your stool should always be brown. Gray or black bowel movements indicate serious, dangerous problems
Dark Urine
Another thing that will change color is your urine. Instead of being light yellow or clear, your urine will turn dark yellow, almost brownish. It may also smell really strong. Dehydration can also cause this.
Fatigue
Naturally, as your liver is being attacked by hepatitis, you will start to feel fatigued. You may notice that you do not have the energy you used to have. You may also feel depressed and unmotivated.
Fever
Your body will start to try to fight hepatitis B. When it does so, you will end up with a fever. This fever will be continual. If you have a fever all the time, call us so we can schedule a hepatitis B test.
Jaundice
Jaundice is a serious sign of liver failure. Your skin and eye whites will turn yellow if you have jaundice. You may also feel as if you have the flu. This includes suffering from the chills and shivering constantly.
Joint Pain
As if all of the above were not enough, your joints will start to hurt constantly if you have hepatitis B. This can make movement difficult, especially if the pain is unbearable.
Nausea
As we mentioned when we talked about jaundice, you may feel as if you have the flu if you have hepatitis B. This includes feeling nauseous all the time. You may also vomit frequently.
Do not take chances with your health. Call us today to schedule an appointment for a hepatitis B test if you are suffering from the symptoms discussed above. If your hepatitis is acute, it can be treated.
