Hepatitis

Reasonably often, an infection with a hepatitis virus causes no signs of illness at first. When symptoms do appear, they can vary widely. Flu-like symptoms such as light fever, loss of appetite, headache and nausea are common. Pain in the upper abdominal area, dark urine and light-colored stools can also be signs of hepatitis. A yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice) is considered typical, but it occurs in only a few cases.

Hepatitis B and C can remain in the body permanently. This is then called a chronic infection. After years or decades, an untreated chronic infection can lead to cirrhosis of the liver, liver failure and liver cancer.