Learn About Hepatitis: Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

Diagnosis

When patients experience symptoms such as jaundice and exhaustion, an acute liver infection is frequently suspected. The existence and amount of hepatitis virus and antibodies in the body can then be determined via blood testing.

If chronic hepatitis B or C is detected and there is a risk of liver damage, the doctor may recommend a liver biopsy. Because liver damage can occur before any obvious signs and symptoms, routine hepatitis B and C testing is recommended for anyone who is at high risk of being exposed to the virus.

According to CDC hepatitis B guidelines, regular testing is advised for injection drug users, males who have sex with other men, people using immunosuppressive medicines, HIV-positive patients, and pregnant women.

Complications

Chronic infection and inflammation can cause significant liver scarring (cirrhosis) and decrease liver function. While the projected number of new infections in the United States has been decreasing, records from the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System show that hepatitis B and C viruses can remain chronic illnesses.

In the United States, both are leading causes of chronic liver disease and liver cancer. According to the CDC, around 2 to 6 percent of adults infected with hepatitis B and approximately 75 to 85 percent of people infected with hepatitis C will develop a chronic illness.

Infected infants and children are more likely to develop chronic hepatitis B. According to the Mayo Clinic, hepatitis B infections increase the likelihood of contracting hepatitis D, which cannot be developed unless there is an existing hepatitis B infection.

Hepatitis B can also cause renal difficulties, and adults who are infected are more prone than children to develop kidney failure. According to the CDC, both hepatitis A and E do not result in chronic infections. Acute liver failure may occur in elderly persons or those who already have other chronic liver illnesses in rare circumstances.