Hepatitis survival guide

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

Overview

This section provides a short and straight to the point overview of the disease or symptom. The first sentence of the overview must contain the name of the disease.

Causes

Life Threatening Causes

Life-threatening causes include conditions that may result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated.

• Acetaminophen overdose
• Heat stroke
• Mushroom poisoning

Common Causes

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis D
• Hepatitis E
• Autoimmune hepatitis
• Epstein Barr virus
• Cytomegalovirus
• Herpes simplex virus
• Antibiotics
• Anticonvulsant drugs

Diagnosis

Shown below is an algorithm summarizing the diagnosis of hepatitis.

Patients commonly present with: Loss of appetite Nausea Vomiting Right upper quadrant abdominal pain Muscle aches Fatigue Icterus Dark-colored urine Clay-colored stool and diarrhea Artharalgia Pruritis Urticaria

On physical examination there can be: Jaundice Hepatomegaly Spleenomegaly

Perform liver function tests

The following results are suggestive of acute hepatitis: Elevated serum bilirubin levels Elevated levels of transaminases enzymes including Alanine aminotransferase and Aspartate aminotransferase greater than five folds the normal reference values. Mild elevation or normal value of Alkaline phosphatase and Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. Mark elevation of these enzymes show peri-ampullary or biliary obstruction.

Perform Viral titers and antigen detection tests: IgM levels for HAV IgM levels for HBV core antigen Serological assay to detect antibody levels for HCV IgM levels for HDV

Treatment

Shown below is an algorithm summarizing the treatment of [[disease name]] according the the [...] guidelines.

Do's

• The content in this section is in bullet points.

Don'ts

• The content in this section is in bullet points.

References

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