Symptoms

There is no hard and fast rule regarding the appearance of symptoms. Acute hepatitis B symptoms may not appear for weeks or even months. Chronic hepatitis’ onset is also slow. In both cases, the following symptoms are observed:

1) Loss Of Appetite

Abruptions in appetite is usually the primary manifestations of liver disease. Hepatitis patients typically complain of loss of appetite as an initial symptom. A study published in the Journal of Viral Hepatitis noted that hepatitis B patients showed two evident signs before being diagnosed with hepatitis B. The two most common symptoms reported include loss of appetite and fatigue. A whopping 79% of patients suffered from a loss of appetite, while the percentage of patients experiencing fatigue and energy loss was 90%.

In another study, pregnant women suffering from acute hepatitis B also reported a loss of appetite.

Many people complain of having the same desire to eat as they used to, while others claim to have no feeling of hunger. This is also accompanied by unintentional weight loss. One of the significant roles played by the liver is an enhancement in food digestion. Therefore, the suboptimal performance of the liver leads to poor digestion and thus weight loss.

Patients suffering from viral hepatitis infections might also experience alterations in taste sensations, further adding to abstinence from consuming food. This phenomenon, combined with a decreased urge to eat, leads to rapid weight loss and fatigue.