Hepatitis is defined as inflammation of the liver. Viral hepatitis is one of the various forms of hepatitis and refers to infections caused by viruses that affect the liver. Viral hepatitis includes five distinct diseases,
caused by five different viruses. The different viruses are each called by a letter name: There are two types of hepatitis B infections: Those with chronic hepatitis B infection are at an increased risk for development of liver cancer. If you have chronic hepatitis B infection, your doctor will monitor
you closely with surveillance imaging (usually every six months). Hepatitis B may develop without any signs or symptoms, or symptoms may be nonspecific and short-lived. Acute Hepatitis B SymptomsThere are three phases of acute hepatitis B infection, and symptoms may differ depending on the stage. Early in the disease, called the prodromal phase, symptoms may include:
Symptoms of the next phase, the preicteric phase, include:
During the icteric phase:
Chronic Hepatitis B SymptomsMost patients with chronic hepatitis B are asymptomatic unless their disease progresses. Others might have nonspecific symptoms, such as fatigue. Some patients experience worsening of the infection and develop signs and symptoms similar to acute hepatitis. If patients with chronic hepatitis B progress to cirrhosis (when the liver becomes severely scarred) they will develop signs and symptoms of liver failure, including:
Hepatitis B DiagnosisHepatitis B diagnosis begins by conducting a thorough physical examination, during which you describe your symptoms and medical history. Other procedures used to diagnose hepatitis B:
Diagnostic TestsA blood test will be ordered to look for abnormal levels of certain enzymes in your blood. Your doctor may order a liver panel, which is a series of blood tests used to gauge liver function. It is also common for a patient with hepatitis B to have a low white blood cell count, so your doctor may also request a complete blood count. If the blood tests show the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) for longer than six months, that is a sign of chronic hepatitis B. There are also non-invasive imaging tests that your doctor may order to estimate the amount of scar tissue in the liver (called fibrosis), which results from liver inflammation over time. These tests are ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) elastography. Liver BiopsyDuring a liver biopsy, liver tissue is removed and sent to a pathology lab for analysis to determine if you have hepatitis B and how much scar tissue is present. It may be necessary if:
Treatment Hepatitis B TreatmentAcute hepatitis B usually resolves on its own without intervention. Treatment for chronic hepatitis B includes medications to suppress the virus and reduce the risk of long-term medical complications. What is the icteric phase of hepatitis?During the icteric phase : Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes) develops. Other symptoms may subside. Anorexia, nausea and vomiting may worsen.
What are the 3 stages or phases of hepatitis?The entire illness of acute hepatitis B sequentially passes through three phases, namely prodromal phase, icteric phase and convalescence phase. The prodromal phase is characterized by MARKED LOSS OF APPETITE, and other flu‐like symptoms such as low‐grade fever, nausea and vomiting, and lasts for a few days.
What finding would be expected in a person in the prodromal phase of hepatitis?Prodromal (pre-icteric) phase: Nonspecific symptoms occur; they include profound anorexia, malaise, nausea and vomiting, a newly developed distaste for cigarettes (in smokers), and often fever or right upper quadrant abdominal pain. Urticaria and arthralgias occasionally occur, especially in HBV infection.
What are the three most common types of viral hepatitis?Heavy alcohol use, toxins, some medications, and certain medical conditions can cause hepatitis. However, hepatitis is often caused by a virus. In the United States, the most common types of viral hepatitis are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
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