As the liver continues to be damaged and scarred, it may stop performing one or more of its normal functions. For example, it may stop cleaning harmful wastes, toxins, and drugs from the blood. It may also stop making enough of the proteins your body needs to function properly. This is called liver failure.
It is possible that before liver failure develops, people with hepatitis B may not even know that their liver is being damaged. They may not have any symptoms of hepatitis B or notice any physical changes to their body.
However, when the liver becomes badly damaged with cirrhosis and liver failure occurs, several late hepatitis B symptoms can begin to appear, including:
Fluid build-up in the stomach area and legs
Bleeding in the intestines
Slowing of mental function
Bruising or bleeding that occurs very easily
Itchy skin
Personality changes
Coma or death.
When liver failure occurs in a person with hepatitis B, he or she may also develop:
Bleeding in the stomach and esophagus (known as varices)
Previous
Add this article to your Favorites
Email this article
Print