What Causes Abdominal Pain And Fatigue When Diagnosed With Hepatitis B?

Posted on Sat, 16 Jan 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 16 Jan 2016 Answered on

Wed, 17 Feb 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Hello. I was diagnosed with hepatitis b in early December. My HBsAg level was less than 100 IU/ml at that time. Yesterday I started experiencing slight abdominal pain and fatigue. I suspect I was infected in early XXXXXXX or July. I was told that a low viral load was a good predictor of viral clearance. Does the presence of these symptoms mean it's more likely to be chronic? I'm scheduled to see my doctor on the 25th of this month. Should I see him sooner? No other symptoms have appeared.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (22 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You symptoms are not related with hepatitis B infection.

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you for asking!
I read carefully all your concerns and I understood your query.
You are reporting to have abdominal pain and fatigue.
These finding may be related with :
- acute gastrointestinal infection
- IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)
I would like to know more if you have bowel movement changes, fever ?
Your symptomas are not related with hepatitis B infection.
The level of HbsAg less than 100UI/ml is really too low and is not causing liver damage , so nothing of your symptoms are related with viral B infection.

You don't need to see a doctor as soon as possible.
Hope it was helpful to you!
Dr.Klerida

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (22 minutes later)

Hello again Dr. Shehu,

I have not experienced any fever and my bowel movements have been mostly normal; not pale in color but sometimes smaller and more often. I have not been eating as much despite only slight decrease in my appetite so that may explain it. Too nervous to eat much right now. Urine color is typical; not dark. No jaundice, itching or pain in joints. Just feeling tired and slight, occasional pain in right side of abdomen area. I have quit drinking alcohol and do not smoke. I rarely drank alcohol before.

Also, my partner lives with me. He tested negative for any std's as of last week. Thank goodness. He says he was vaccinated for hep a & b many years ago. Should he be vaccinated again?

Thank you again for answering my questions.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Please follow. ...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

With reagards to your partner vaccination against hepatitis B, i suggest to do antibodies titre to hepatitis B( anti- HBs)
If the titre is high than there is no need to repeat vaccination , but if the titre ia too low than he should repeat the vaccine of hepatitis B.

As I mentioned above your symptoms are mostly related with IBS and has nothing to do with Hepatitis B.

Hope it was helpful to you!

Dr.Klerida

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar