Hepatitis is the term used to describe inflammation of the liver. It's usually the result of a viral infection (A,B,C,D, E) or liver damage caused by drinking alcohol or auto-immune diseases.
Short-term (acute) hepatitis often has no noticeable symptoms, so you may not realise you have it. If symptoms do develop, they can include: muscle and joint pain, a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above, feeling unusually tired all the time, loss of appetite, abdominal (tummy) pain, dark urine, pale, grey-coloured poo (stool), itchy skin, yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice). Long-term (chronic) hepatitis also may not have any obvious symptoms until the liver stops working properly (liver failure) and may only be picked up during blood tests. In the later stages it can cause jaundice, swelling in the legs, ankles and feet, confusion, and blood in your stools or vomit.