For a slight majority of patients, the illness begins suddenly as though one
had come down with the flu. Except that this “flu” doesn’t seem to
completely go away. For many other patients, the onset appears gradually
over a long period of time. Infants and young children often have no
symptoms at all.
Many other symptoms may also be present, however they will typically be
different among different patients. These include: fatigue, low-grade
fever, headaches; slight sore throat, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting,
sensitivity to light, and stiff or aching joints.
Many people develop a pain in the right side, over the liver area.
The urine may become dark brown, and the feces may be pale. In severe acute
infections, some people may develop jaundice in which the skin and whites
of the eyes become yellowish.
The degree of severity can differ widely among patients, and will also vary
over time for the same patient. Severity can vary between getting
unusually fatigued following stressful events, to being totally
bedridden and completely disabled. The symptoms have a tendency to
wax and wane over time.
