Which symptom is NOT commonly found in the pre-icteric phase of hepatitis?

Jaundice is not typically present during the pre-icteric phase of hepatitis. The pre-icteric phase, also known as the prodromal phase, usually occurs a week or two before the onset of jaundice and is characterized by a range of nonspecific symptoms. Fatigue, anorexia, and nausea and vomiting are common during this phase as the liver becomes inflamed and begins to lose its functional capacity.

Jaundice itself is the result of elevated bilirubin levels in the blood, which indicates that liver dysfunction has progressed further. The timing of symptoms is important; jaundice appears later in the disease course, making it a hallmark of the icteric phase rather than the pre-icteric phase. Therefore, the absence of jaundice during the pre-icteric phase confirms that it is not a symptom typically found at that stage of hepatitis.