Symptoms of hepatitis E
Learn about the symptoms of hepatitis E, what to look for and what to do if you become ill.
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What are the symptoms of hepatitis E?
You can carry the virus without showing signs you have it.
You can also experience a wide range of symptoms if you are infected. Regardless of your symptoms, you can still spread the infection to others.
Most adults with hepatitis E develop the following symptoms 2 to 7 weeks after being infected with the virus:
- fever
- loss of appetite
- stomach cramps
- jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
- dark urine
- tiredness
Symptoms are usually mild and the illness lasts 1 to 2 weeks. Some severe cases can last around 2 months. People with a weakened immune system may develop a long-lasting illness that can lead to more advanced liver disease.
It is rare for healthy adults to die from hepatitis E because the illness is not long-lasting.
What do you do if you become ill?
Contact your health care provider if you have:
- travelled to an area where hepatitis E is present
- any of the listed symptoms
- been in contact with an infected person
Tell your health care provider:
- your symptoms
- which countries you have been travelling or living in
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