Though Hepatitis B isn’t the most widespread STD, it still affects far too many people each year. Recognizing Hepatitis B symptoms is essential for those at risk. Some of the most common Hepatitis B symptoms include:
- Dark urine
- Yellowing of the skin (jaundice)
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea, vomiting, and appetite loss
- Fever and fatigue
- Joint pain
If you come to experience any of these Hepatitis B symptoms, you’ll want to seek medical attention and get a Hepatitis B test. Following a positive STD test, your doctor can prescribe treatment if necessary to help alleviate your Hepatitis B symptoms. But don’t wait to undergo STD testing: Hepatitis B symptoms only get more dangerous over time. In some cases, the disease can result in severe liver damage, at which point the only effective course of treatment may be a liver transplant.
Though anyone who has unprotected sex is at risk for Hepatitis B, certain behaviors increase the likelihood of infection. IV drug users and people with multiple sex partners have a greater chance of contracting Hepatitis B. If your lifestyle puts you at an increased risk, consider undergoing Hepatitis B testing and be on the lookout for Hepatitis B symptoms in case they happen to appear.
