Hepatitis history and symptoms: Difference between revisions
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== History and symptoms== | == 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: | |||
* Abdominal pain or distention | |||
* Breast development in males | |||
* Dark urine and pale or clay-colored stools | |||
* Fatigue | |||
* Fever, usually low-grade | |||
* General itching | |||
* Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes) | |||
* Loss of appetite | |||
* Nausea and vomiting | |||
* 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. | |||
===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> | ||
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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. 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> | ||
===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> | ||
Revision as of 16:32, 3 February 2012
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Hepatitis Main Page |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
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:
- Abdominal pain or distention
- Breast development in males
- Dark urine and pale or clay-colored stools
- Fatigue
- Fever, usually low-grade
- General itching
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- 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.
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. Physical findings are usually minimal, apart from jaundice (33%) and tender hepatomegaly (10%). There can be occasional lymphadenopathy (5%) or splenomegaly (5%).[2]
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.[3]
Findings on clinical examination are usually those of cirrhosis or are related to aetiology.
References
- ↑ V.G. Bain and M. Ma, Acute Viral Hepatitis, Chapter 14, First principle of gastroenterology (an online text book)
- ↑ Ryder S, Beckingham I (2001). "ABC of diseases of liver, pancreas, and biliary system: Acute hepatitis". BMJ. 322 (7279): 151–153. PMID 11159575.
- ↑ "Chronic hepatitis", Merck Manuals Online Medical Libraries. Retrieved on 2007-11-09.