Guthrie Hepatitis C Clinic

Causes:
Common causes of acute hepatitis may include:

• infection with a virus (viral hepatitis A, B, C, D, or E)

• overdose of drugs (such as acetaminophen)

• chemical exposure (such as dry cleaning chemicals)

Symptoms:
Acute hepatitis usually starts with flu-like symptoms. The following are the most common symptoms of acute hepatitis. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently:

• jaundice
• nausea
• vomiting
• loss of appetite
• fever
• tender in the right, upper abdomen
• sore muscles
• joint pain
• itchy red hives on skin

The symptoms of acute hepatitis may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Consult your Guthrie physician for diagnosis.

Diagnosis:
In addition to a complete medical history and medical examination, diagnostic procedures for acute hepatitis may include:

• specific laboratory tests
• liver function tests

Treatment:
Specific treatment for acute hepatitis will be determined by your physician’s based on:

• your overall health and medical history
• extent of the disease
• your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
• expectations for the course of the disease
• your opinion or preference

Treatment varies, depending on the type of acute hepatitis (viral versus non-viral). Most people recover without treatment. Severe acute hepatitis may require hospitalization.

People who have hepatitis B or C may become chronic carriers of the disease. Proper precautions need to be taken to prevent the spread of the disease.

Different forms of:

• alcohol-induced chronic hepatitis – continued damage throughout the liver from heavy alcohol consumption.

• chronic active hepatitis – an aggressive inflammation and destruction of liver cells, which usually leads to cirrhosis.

• chronic persistent hepatitis – a milder inflammation of the liver, which usually does not lead to cirrhosis.

Causes:
Certain viruses and drugs may cause chronic hepatitis in some people, but not in others. Some common causes include:

• viral hepatitis
• heavy alcohol consumption
• autoimmune disorder (when the body attacks its own tissues)
• reaction to certain medications
• metabolic disorder (such as hemochromatosis or Wilson’s Disease)

Symptoms:
Symptoms for chronic hepatitis are usually mild. Although the liver damage continues, its progression is usually slow. The following are the most common symptoms of chronic hepatitis. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Some individuals may experience no symptoms, while others may experience the following:

• feeling ill
• poor appetite
• fatigue
• low fever
• upper abdominal pain
• jaundice
• symptoms of chronic liver disease (such as enlarged spleen, spider-like blood vessels in skin and fluid retention)

The symptoms of chronic hepatitis may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Consult a physician for diagnosis.

Diagnosis:
In addition to a complete medical history and medical examination, diagnostic procedures for chronic hepatitis may include:

• specific laboratory tests
• liver function tests
• liver biopsy to determine severity of inflammation, scarring, cirrhosis and underlying cause

Treatment:
Specific treatment for chronic hepatitis will be determined by your physician’s based on:

• your overall health and medical history
• extent of the disease
• your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
• expectations for the course of the disease
• your opinion or preference

Treatment of chronic hepatitis depends on the underlying cause of the disease. The goal of treatment is to stop damage to the liver and alleviate symptoms.

Treatment may include one/more of the following:

Antiviral Agent – When caused by hepatitis B or C, inflammation of the liver may be stopped with the antiviral agents such as interferon, ribavirin, and lamivudine.

Corticosteroids – Corticosteroids may be used to treat chronic liver disease caused by an autoimmune disorder. Inflammation is suppressed, but scarring of the liver may continue.

Discontinuation of certain drugs – When chronic hepatitis is caused by certain drugs, discontinuing those drugs usually clears up any symptoms.