Overview
Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver cells. Inflammation is a normal response of the body to any type of cell injury.
Causes
Here are some of the causes of this health condition:
- Viral infection by hepatitis virus family (A,B,C,D, and E)
- Autoimmune destruction of the liver
- Alcoholic liver damage
- Drug-induced liver damage
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of this health condition depend on whether the inflammation is acute or chronic. The signs and symptoms of chronic disease do not appear until late in the disease when the liver has been extensively damaged and the function of the liver deteriorates. The symptoms of acute hepatitis manifest early, and can be listed as the following:
- Fever
- Flu-like symptoms
- Loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss
- Abdominal pain
- Dark colored urine
- Pale stools
- Jaundice (Yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes)
Diagnosis
A comprehensive medical history, as well as a relevant, and complete physical examination of the patient is very significant to make the provisional diagnosis of this disease. For the confirmation of the disease some of the following tests can be helpful:
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Liver function tests (LFTs)
- ESR
- CRP
- Viral markers
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Liver biopsy
Treatment
Treatment vary with respect to the type and chronicity of disease. These are some of the general treatment modalities:
- Anti-viral medications (For viral hepatitis)
- Stop alcohol intake
- Immunosuppressive medications (For autoimmune hepatitis)