Autoimmune Hepatitis Symptoms

Early symptoms of autoimmune hepatitis can include fatigue, diarrhea, muscle pain, and mild stomach pain (or abdominal pain). A person may also develop jaundice, along with arthritis, itching, light-colored stool, and a lack of menstrual bleeding in the early stages of the illness. There are a number of more serious symptoms that can occur if a person with autoimmune hepatitis also develops cirrhosis. A few of these symptoms include weakness, weight loss, and exhaustion.

Chronic Autoimmune Hepatitis

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Autoimmune Hepatitis?

Autoimmune hepatitis can affect people differently. This applies not only to how the condition progresses but also what symptoms occur. Autoimmune hepatitis symptoms can range from mild to severe. They may start out slowly or abruptly. They may also come and go (this is known as having spontaneous remissions and exacerbations).

Early Symptoms

For a person with autoimmune hepatitis, symptoms (especially early symptoms) may include one or several of the following:

Fatigue
Excessive tiredness
Not feeling very hungry
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Low-grade fever
Muscle pain
Joint pain
Sore throat
Mild stomach pain (or abdominal pain).

Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes) may also occur along with:

Dark urine
Abdominal pain (or stomach pain) on the right side
Light-colored stool
Itching
Acne
Arthritis
A lack of menstrual bleeding.

Not everyone with autoimmune hepatitis will have these early symptoms.

(Autoimmune Hepatitis Symptoms Continued: Page 2)