Final answer:
The preicteric phase of viral hepatitis is characterized by fatigue, anorexia, and nausea, and lacks the jaundice typical of the icteric phase.
Step-by-step explanation:
The clinical manifestations that are primary characteristics of the preicteric phase of viral hepatitis include fatigue, anorexia, and nausea. The preicteric phase is the initial phase of viral hepatitis, occurring before the onset of jaundice. This phase precedes the icteric phase, which is characterized by jaundice, dark-colored urine, and clay-colored stools. During the preicteric phase, patients do not typically exhibit jaundice; instead, they experience more general symptoms like malaise, loss of appetite, and upper right quadrant pain, which are indicative of the beginning stages of liver inflammation.