Definition:
Hepatitis (plural hepatitides) implies injury to liver marked by presence of inflammatory cells in the liver tissue.
Drug-induced hepatitis (also called toxic hepatitis) appears in eight in every 10,000 people because the liver reacts abnormally during drug exposure, leading to liver damage. This pathology results to the the liver not being able to function properly and the symptoms can begin to be seen.
Diagnosis:
Diagnosis is usually made through a physical exam along with a patient history to identify any possible hepatotoxins. Blood tests are typically done as well. An increased in white blood cell count is typical.
Treatment:
There aren't any specific treatment other than immediate discontinuance of the causative agent. Rest during the acute phase of the disease is crucial along with the intake of fluids to maintain hydration.
Symptoms and Signs:
The symptoms of drug-induced hepatitis mirror those of viral hepatitis. Drug induced hepatitis has a tendency to be acute. If it is not detected soon enough the damage could be permanent resulting in chronic hepatitis. Some of the common symptoms are nausea, headache, vomiting, anorexia, jaundice, clay color stools, dark urine, and hepatomegaly.
Causes:
With toxic hepatitis liver damage is the result of a drug complication with hepatotoxins which happens to everyone who takes that particular drug. In patients with a metabolic idiosyncrasy the person metabolizes the drug quite differently than most people thus causing a harmful by-product that damages the liver. With an immunologic idiosyncrasy the patient's body recognizes the metabolized drug by-products as a foreign body. This results to the destruction of liver cells containing the by-product via the immune system resulting in hepatitis.
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