Have I contracted Hepatitis?

[Valley1]

I went to visit a friend who is in prison (marijuana related), and we shared a bottle of juice while we talked.  I didn't remember till I was on my way home that when he was in jail they quarantined him and when he tried to given blood prior to his arrest they refused him.  He had contracted Hepatitis B years ago and must be a carrier or something.



Five days later I woke with a strong feeling of flu, feeling awful and tiring easily, but no upper respiratory symptoms, no chills, my skin color is normal and my eyes look normal.  I do take a lot of supplements among which is three milk thistle a day and other good for you herbs, but I always have.



I have no other symptoms.  The fluishness is worse in the morning and feels a little better over the day till evening when it gets worse again, but doesn't go away.



It's been three weeks now.  I have no other symptoms at all that a doctor could go by.  I get regular medical care so I don't have any long neglected disease. Could I have contracted a mild case of Hepatitis?  Is there such a thing as a mild case?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Yes, it is possible to have hepatitis with mild symptoms; in fact, most cases cause no symptoms at all.  But you cannot catch hepatitis B from sharing a bottle of juice; your symptoms don't sound like hepatitis; and when hepatitis B does cause symptoms, they take a few weeks to show up.



If your symptoms persist more than 10 days, see a health care provider.



Good luck--  HHH, MD