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== History and symptoms==
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==Overview==
 
== History and Symptoms==
Hepatitis may start and get better quickly (acute hepatitis), or cause long-term disease (chronic hepatitis). In some instances, it may lead to liver damage, liver failure, or even liver cancer. How severe hepatitis is depends on many factors, including the cause of the liver damage and any illnesses you have. Hepatitis A, for example, is usually short-term and does not lead to chronic liver problems.
Hepatitis may start and get better quickly (acute hepatitis), or cause long-term disease (chronic hepatitis). In some instances, it may lead to liver damage, liver failure, or even liver cancer. How severe hepatitis is depends on many factors, including the cause of the liver damage and any illnesses you have. Hepatitis A, for example, is usually short-term and does not lead to chronic liver problems.
The symptoms of hepatitis include:
The symptoms of hepatitis include:
* Abdominal pain or distention
* [[Abdominal pain]] or distention
* Breast development in males
* [[Breast]] development in males
* Dark urine and pale or clay-colored stools
* Dark urine and pale or [[clay-colored stools]]
* Fatigue
* [[Fatigue]]
* Fever, usually low-grade
* [[Fever]], usually low-grade
* General itching
* General itching
* Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
* [[Jaundice]] (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
* Loss of appetite
* [[Loss of appetite]]
* Nausea and vomiting
* [[Nausea]] and [[vomiting]]
* Weight loss
* [[Weight loss]]
Many people with hepatitis B or C do not have symptoms when they are first infected. They can still develop liver failure later.
Many people with hepatitis B or C do not have symptoms when they are first infected. They can still develop liver failure later.


===Acute hepatitis===
===Acute Hepatitis===
 
Clinically, the course of acute hepatitis varies widely from mild symptoms requiring no treatment to [[fulminant hepatic failure]] needing [[liver transplantation]]. Acute viral hepatitis is more likely to be asymptomatic in younger people. Symptomatic individuals may present after convalescent stage of 7 to 10 days, with the total illness lasting 2 to 6 weeks.<ref name="bain"> V.G. Bain and M. Ma, Acute Viral Hepatitis, Chapter 14, ''[http://www.gastroresource.com/GITextbook/en/Chapter14/14-4.htm| First principle of gastroenterology (an online text book)]''</ref>
Clinically, the course of acute hepatitis varies widely from mild symptoms requiring no treatment to [[fulminant hepatic failure]] needing [[liver transplantation]]. Acute viral hepatitis is more likely to be asymptomatic in younger people. Symptomatic individuals may present after convalescent stage of 7 to 10 days, with the total illness lasting 2 to 6 weeks.<ref name="bain"> V.G. Bain and M. Ma, Acute Viral Hepatitis, Chapter 14, ''[http://www.gastroresource.com/GITextbook/en/Chapter14/14-4.htm| First principle of gastroenterology (an online text book)]''</ref>


Initial features are of nonspecific flu-like symptoms, common to almost all acute [[viral infections]] and may include [[malaise]], [[muscle]] and [[joint aches]], [[fever]], [[nausea]] or [[vomiting]], [[diarrhea]], and [[headache]]. More specific [[symptom]]s, which can be present in acute hepatitis from any cause, are: profound [[Anorexia (symptom)|loss of appetite]], aversion to [[smoking]] among smokers, [[dark urine]], [[yellowing]] of the [[eyes]] and [[skin]] (i.e., [[jaundice]]) and [[Abdomen|abdominal]] discomfort. Physical findings are usually minimal, apart from [[jaundice]] (33%) and tender [[hepatomegaly]] (10%). There can be occasional [[lymphadenopathy]] (5%) or [[splenomegaly]] (5%).<ref>{{cite journal |author=Ryder S, Beckingham I |title=ABC of diseases of liver, pancreas, and biliary system: Acute hepatitis |journal=BMJ |volume=322 |issue=7279 |pages=151-153 |year=2001 |pmid=11159575}}</ref>
Initial features are of nonspecific flu-like symptoms, common to almost all acute [[viral infections]] and may include [[malaise]], [[muscle]] and [[joint aches]], [[fever]], [[nausea]] or [[vomiting]], [[diarrhea]], and [[headache]]. More specific [[symptom]]s, which can be present in acute hepatitis from any cause, are: profound [[Anorexia (symptom)|loss of appetite]], aversion to [[smoking]] among smokers, [[dark urine]], [[yellowing]] of the [[eyes]] and [[skin]] (i.e., [[jaundice]]) and [[Abdomen|abdominal]] discomfort.  


===Chronic Hepatitis===
===Chronic Hepatitis===
Majority of patients will remain asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, abnormal [[blood tests]] being the only manifestation. Features may be related to the extent of liver damage or the cause of hepatitis. Many experience return of symptoms related to acute hepatitis. Jaundice can be a late feature and may indicate extensive damage. Other features include abdominal fullness from enlarged [[liver]] or [[spleen]], low grade [[fever]] and [[fluid retention]] ([[ascites]]). Extensive damage and scarring of liver (i.e., [[cirrhosis]]) leads to weight loss, easy bruising and bleeding tendencies. [[Acne]], abnormal [[menstruation]], lung scarring, inflammation of the [[thyroid gland]] and [[kidney]]s may be present in [[women]] with [[autoimmune hepatitis]].<ref>[http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec10/ch137/ch137c.html "Chronic hepatitis"], Merck Manuals Online Medical Libraries. Retrieved on 2007-11-09.</ref>
Majority of patients will remain asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, abnormal [[blood tests]] being the only manifestation. Features may be related to the extent of liver damage or the cause of hepatitis. Many experience return of symptoms related to acute hepatitis. Jaundice can be a late feature and may indicate extensive damage. Other features include abdominal fullness from enlarged [[liver]] or [[spleen]], low grade [[fever]] and [[fluid retention]] ([[ascites]]). Extensive damage and scarring of liver (i.e., [[cirrhosis]]) leads to weight loss, easy bruising and bleeding tendencies. [[Acne]], abnormal [[menstruation]], lung scarring, inflammation of the [[thyroid gland]] and [[kidney]]s may be present in [[women]] with [[autoimmune hepatitis]].<ref>[http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec10/ch137/ch137c.html "Chronic hepatitis"], Merck Manuals Online Medical Libraries. Retrieved on 2007-11-09.</ref>
Findings on clinical examination are usually those of [[cirrhosis]] or are related to [[aetiology]].


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist|2}}
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[[Category:Gastroenterology]]
[[Category:Gastroenterology]]
[[Category:Hepatitis| ]]
[[Category:Hepatology]]
[[Category:Inflammations]]
[[Category:Disease]]
 
[[Category:Needs overview]]
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{{WS}}

Latest revision as of 22:07, 29 July 2020

Hepatitis Main Page

Home

Patient Information

Overview

Classification

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis D
Hepatitis E
Alcoholic Hepatitis
Autoimmune Hepatitis

Differential Diagnosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:

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Overview

History and Symptoms

Hepatitis may start and get better quickly (acute hepatitis), or cause long-term disease (chronic hepatitis). In some instances, it may lead to liver damage, liver failure, or even liver cancer. How severe hepatitis is depends on many factors, including the cause of the liver damage and any illnesses you have. Hepatitis A, for example, is usually short-term and does not lead to chronic liver problems. The symptoms of hepatitis include:

Many people with hepatitis B or C do not have symptoms when they are first infected. They can still develop liver failure later.

Acute Hepatitis

Clinically, the course of acute hepatitis varies widely from mild symptoms requiring no treatment to fulminant hepatic failure needing liver transplantation. Acute viral hepatitis is more likely to be asymptomatic in younger people. Symptomatic individuals may present after convalescent stage of 7 to 10 days, with the total illness lasting 2 to 6 weeks.[1]

Initial features are of nonspecific flu-like symptoms, common to 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 present 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.

Chronic Hepatitis

Majority of patients will remain asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, abnormal blood tests being the only manifestation. Features may be related to the extent of liver damage or the cause of hepatitis. Many experience return of symptoms related to acute hepatitis. Jaundice can be a late feature and may indicate extensive damage. Other features include abdominal fullness from enlarged liver or spleen, low grade fever and fluid retention (ascites). Extensive damage and scarring of liver (i.e., cirrhosis) leads to weight loss, easy bruising and bleeding tendencies. Acne, abnormal menstruation, lung scarring, inflammation of the thyroid gland and kidneys may be present in women with autoimmune hepatitis.[2]

References

  1. V.G. Bain and M. Ma, Acute Viral Hepatitis, Chapter 14, First principle of gastroenterology (an online text book)
  2. "Chronic hepatitis", Merck Manuals Online Medical Libraries. Retrieved on 2007-11-09.

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