Hepatitis B infection often manifests without symptoms in about half of cases, leaving individuals unaware of their infection. Symptoms are more common in adults and typically appear 1 to 4 months after exposure, resembling flu-like symptoms.
Common symptoms of hepatitis B include loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, body-wide itching or irritation, abdominal pain (specifically towards the right side, under the lower rib cage), jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark-colored urine resembling cola or tea, and pale stools.
Symptoms of fulminant hepatitis, a severe and life-threatening form of acute hepatitis B, can develop suddenly and progress rapidly. These symptoms may include mental changes like confusion or hallucinations, sudden loss of consciousness, jaundice, abdominal swelling due to fluid accumulation, and severe nausea and vomiting, which can lead to dehydration.
Dehydration can further manifest as extreme weakness, confusion, headache, reduced urination, irritability, and excessive thirst.
Hepatitis B infection can lead to liver damage, with symptoms such as ascites (abdominal fluid retention causing swelling), weight gain due to ascites, persistent jaundice, appetite loss, weight loss, vomiting blood, bleeding from various sources, and delayed blood clotting. Severe liver damage may result in hepatic encephalopathy, characterized by excessive sleepiness, mental confusion, and in advanced stages, coma.