Home
Articles
Q&A

What are the obvious symptoms of hepatitis B?

Sep 03, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Gao Jun
Introduction
Hepatitis B generally refers to hepatitis B viral infection. Hepatitis B is an inflammatory liver disease caused by infection with the hepatitis B virus. Its prominent symptoms mainly include pain in the liver area, jaundice of the skin and sclera, gastrointestinal discomfort, persistent fatigue, and enlargement of the liver and spleen. In daily life, patients should maintain regular rest and avoid staying up late and excessive fatigue.

　　Hepatitis B generally refers to Hepatitis B viral infection. Hepatitis B is a liver inflammatory disease caused by the Hepatitis B virus. Its prominent symptoms mainly include pain in the liver region, jaundice of the skin and sclera, gastrointestinal discomfort, persistent fatigue, and enlargement of the liver and spleen. A detailed analysis is as follows:

　　1. Liver region pain: Patients often experience pain in the upper right abdomen or hypochondriac region, mostly characterized as dull, distending, or vague pain. The severity varies among individuals and may worsen after fatigue, emotional fluctuations, or consumption of greasy food. This pain is associated with inflammation of the liver stimulating the liver capsule, and it gradually subsides as the condition improves.

　　2. Jaundice of the skin and sclera: Some patients develop yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, often accompanied by darkened urine, appearing tea-colored or dark yellow. This occurs due to abnormal bilirubin metabolism caused by liver damage, leading to bilirubin accumulation in the body and resulting in jaundice.

　　3. Gastrointestinal discomfort: Patients frequently experience nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, bloating, aversion to greasy foods, and other gastrointestinal symptoms, with discomfort worsening after eating. As the liver is an important digestive organ, inflammation affects its digestive function, causing the above symptoms.

　　4. Persistent fatigue: Patients experience noticeable and ongoing fatigue, ranging from mild tiredness to severe exhaustion, which is difficult to relieve even after rest and may significantly affect daily activities such as walking or working. This fatigue is closely related to impaired energy metabolism and compromised nutrient absorption in the liver.

　　5. Enlargement of the liver and spleen: At certain stages of the disease, some patients may feel an enlarged liver or spleen in the abdomen, with slight tenderness upon pressing the liver or spleen area. The liver swells due to inflammation, while the spleen may undergo reactive enlargement as part of the immune response.

　　In daily life, patients should maintain regular rest patterns, avoid staying up late and excessive fatigue, and follow a light, easily digestible diet while reducing intake of greasy foods. Uninfected individuals can reduce the risk of infection by receiving the Hepatitis B vaccine.

Related Articles

View All
What medication should be taken for high alanine aminotransferase?
Generally speaking, there is no specific medication for "elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT)." High ALT levels may result from factors such as chronic sleep deprivation, excessive alcohol consumption, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, drug-induced liver injury, or chronic hepatitis B. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly, identify the underlying cause, and then improve the condition through general management, medications, or other treatments under the guidance of a physician.
avatar
Dr. Liu Feng
View Full Answer
What should you eat if you have mild hepatitis B (small three positives)?
In general, patients with "small three positives" (chronic hepatitis B with positive HBsAg, anti-HBe, and HBV DNA) should support liver health through diet while using medication to control the condition. Recommended foods typically include eggs, broccoli, sea bass, spinach, and oats. Commonly used medications include entecavir dispersible tablets, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate tablets, silybin capsules, compound glycyrrhizin tablets, and hepatoprotective tablets.
avatar
Dr. Gao Jun
View Full Answer
How long can the second dose of the hepatitis B vaccine be postponed?
If the vaccination is postponed due to short-term unexpected situations such as a mild cold or temporary travel, it is sufficient to receive the missed dose within one month; there is no need to restart the entire vaccination series. The subsequent third dose should still be administered according to the originally planned interval and will generally result in normal production of effective antibodies. However, if the delay exceeds one month, especially beyond two months, the immune memory induced by the first vaccine dose may weaken.
avatar
Dr. Huang Yuhong
View Full Answer
Is it necessary to get a hepatitis B booster shot?
In general, whether a hepatitis B booster shot is necessary depends on the status of hepatitis B surface antibodies in the body. If the hepatitis B surface antibody is positive and the titer is sufficient, vaccination is usually not required. However, if the hepatitis B surface antibody is negative, or if the antibody is positive but the titer is insufficient, vaccination is recommended. To maintain liver health and reduce the risk of hepatitis B virus infection, it is advised to undergo regular hepatitis B antibody testing.
avatar
Dr. Gao Jun
View Full Answer
How to determine normal results for the five hepatitis B tests
Under normal circumstances, the main results of the five hepatitis B tests include all negative, only hepatitis B surface antibody positive, and hepatitis B surface antigen negative with hepatitis B surface antibody positive. Additionally, determining whether the five hepatitis B test results are normal requires a comprehensive analysis of all indicators; a single result should not be viewed in isolation. If there are doubts about the test results or if the hepatitis B surface antigen is positive, further evaluation may be necessary.
avatar
Dr. Gao Jun
View Full Answer
What should I pay attention to when receiving the hepatitis B vaccine?
Under normal circumstances, when receiving the hepatitis B vaccine, it is important to confirm your own health status, screen for allergies, follow the vaccination schedule, monitor for post-vaccination reactions, and be aware of contraindications for special populations. After vaccination, it is necessary to keep the injection site clean and dry, and avoid scratching. In daily life, maintaining a regular作息 (routine), balanced diet, and moderate exercise can help enhance physical immunity and improve the protective effects of the vaccine.
avatar
Dr. Gao Jun
View Full Answer
How often should the hepatitis B vaccine be administered?
Under normal circumstances, the initial vaccination schedule for healthy individuals follows a 0, 1, 6 month program: the first dose is administered, followed by the second dose one month later, and the third dose five months after the second dose. Effective protective antibodies can be produced after completing the full vaccination series. Newborns, children, and adults who have never been infected with hepatitis B and test negative for antibodies should all follow this vaccination schedule.
avatar
Dr. Huang Yuhong
View Full Answer
What is the difference between "big three positive" and "small three positive" in hepatitis B?
Under normal circumstances, the main differences between hepatitis B "big three positives" and "small three positives" include different viral markers, varying levels of viral replication activity, differing degrees of infectivity, different risks of liver damage, and distinct treatment strategies. In addition, patients with either hepatitis B "big three positives" or "small three positives" should undergo regular liver function tests and hepatitis B virus DNA testing.
avatar
Dr. Gao Jun
View Full Answer
彩牛养生

Your trusted source for health information and wellness guidance.

Quick Links

Resources

Connect

© 2024 HealthPortal. All rights reserved.