Acute hepatitis B
Acute hepatitis B is a short-term infection of the liver caused by a virus that leads to inflammation and swelling of the organ.
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Acute hepatitis B is a viral infection that specifically attacks your liver, which is the large organ in your upper right belly that cleans your blood and helps you digest food. When the hepatitis B virus enters your body, it causes the liver to become inflamed, meaning it gets red, swollen, and irritated.
Most people who get this 'acute' form—which means a sudden, short-term illness—are able to fight off the virus on their own within a few months. Your immune system, which is your body’s internal defense force, eventually clears the virus, allowing the liver to heal and return to its normal work.
Common Symptoms
- Yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes, known as jaundice.
- Dark-colored urine that looks like tea or cola.
- Feeling very tired or having low energy.
- A dull ache or pain in the upper right side of your belly.
- Loss of appetite or feeling sick to your stomach.
- Fever and muscle or joint aches.
- Stools, or bowel movements, that are pale or clay-colored.