Definition:
Hepatitis implies injury to liver marked by presence of inflammatory cells in the liver tissue. The condition can be self limiting, healing on its own, or can progress to scarring of the liver tissue. Hepatitis is acute when it lasts not more than 6 months and chronic when it persists longer. A group of viruses known as the hepatitis viruses cause the most cases of liver damage worldwide.
Diagnosis:
Viral hepatitis conditions can be diagnosed and followed through the use of readily available blood tests.
Treatment:
When symptoms are severe or laboratory tests show liver damage, it's sometimes needed for hepatitis to be treated in the hospital.
Symptoms and Signs:
Initial features are of nonspecific flu-like symptoms, commonly seen in almost all acute viral infections and may include malaise, muscle and joint aches, fever, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, and headache. More specific symptoms, which can be found in acute hepatitis from any cause, are: profound loss of appetite, aversion to smoking among smokers, dark urine, yellowing of the eyes and skin (i.e., jaundice) and abdominal discomfort.
Causes:
Viral hepatitis can be caused by Herpes simplex, Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr, yellow fever virus, and adenoviruses. Non viral infection are caused by toxoplasma, Leptospira, Q fever, rocky mountain spotted fever. Other causes include alcohol, drugs, and pregnancy.
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