Sudden inflammation of the liver tissue or injury to hepatocytes (liver cells), leading to impaired liver function, are the hallmarks of many different conditions collectively referred to as acute hepatitis.
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Dr. Abhishek YadavSudden inflammation of the liver tissue or injury to hepatocytes (liver cells), leading to impaired liver function, are the hallmarks of many different conditions collectively referred to as acute hepatitis. The duration of inflammation and damage to the liver tissue determines whether a case of hepatitis is considered acute or chronic.
Acute hepatitis is the term used to describe a period of inflammation or injury of liver cells that lasts for less than six months. Conversely, chronic hepatitis is the term used to describe liver cell injury or inflammation that lasts longer than six months. Acute hepatitis calls for immediate treatment and abstaining from the cause.
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Contact Us CONTACT USAn inflammation of the liver is referred to as hepatitis. There are various factors that can lead to liver inflammation, such as viruses (viral hepatitis), chemicals, drugs, alcohol, certain genetic disorders, or an overactive immune system that unintentionally targets the liver (autoimmune hepatitis). Acute hepatitis is liver inflammation flares up and goes away quickly. It is characterized by elevated liver indices in liver function tests for less than six months.
Acute HepatitisHepatitis A, B, C, D, and E are the five viruses that cause the various types of viral hepatitis. Unwashed food and contaminated water are the main ways that hepatitis A is transmitted. It is the most contagious, particularly in young children, but it also has the lowest chance of harming the liver. It is typically mild and goes away entirely in six months.
Hepatitis B can be passed from mother to child as well as through contact with contaminated blood, syringes, needles, or bodily fluids. It's a chronic illness that, after many years of viral infection, can sometimes result in permanent liver damage, liver cancer, and cirrhosis of the liver. The contaminated blood can spread hepatitis C, or it can be passed from mother to child during childbirth. In the long run, it can also result in cirrhosis and liver cancer. Only those with a hepatitis B infection can have hepatitis D.
Most cases of hepatitis E occur in South America, Asia, and Africa. When taken excessively or in very high doses, some normally safe medications can be toxic to the liver and result in hepatitis, also known as drug-induced hepatitis. These include vitamin A and acetaminophen (Tylenol).
Autoimmune hepatitis is a type of liver inflammation that happens when the overactive immune system attacks the body cells, mainly in the liver.
An acute viral hepatitis infection is the most frequent infectious cause of acute hepatitis.
However, a broad range of noninfectious causes can also cause acute hepatitis. These include, but are not limited to:
Following are the main symptoms of acute hepatitis:
Certain complications of acute hepatitis are:
The precise cause linked to the acute hepatocyte injury determines how acute hepatitis should be treated. The most common infectious causes of acute hepatitis are hepatitis A and E. These infections typically have a self-limited clinical course and go away with supportive care, which includes IV fluids, antiemetics, and symptomatic therapy, in two to four weeks. Apart from that, patients should abstain from alcohol, other drugs that may be hepatotoxic, and over-the-counter supplements. They ought to be taught how to lower their chance of infecting other people as well.
Consideration should be given to patients who exhibit signs and symptoms of acute liver failure, as acute acetaminophen ingestion is a common noninfectious cause of acute hepatitis leading to acute liver failure. Following the acquisition of an initial history and acetaminophen testing, prompt treatment with N-acetylcysteine should be started as soon as possible.
The cause of the direct harm to the hepatocytes determines the likely outcome of acute hepatitis. Reducing the chances of disabilities and fatalities requires prompt identification of the cause behind the acute hepatitis and its appropriate management. Make an appointment with your healthcare provider if you have a history of heavy alcohol use and/or liver disease symptoms. They will examine your liver, evaluate any potential harm, and assist you in altering your lifestyle for the better.
A: Vaccines against types C, D, and E of hepatitis are not available. Once hepatitis is acquired, there is no recovery. The goals of treatment are to relieve symptoms, stop more liver damage from occurring, and try to reverse any already existing damage. The majority of acute hepatitis cases go away with time.
A: Fever, exhaustion, appetite loss, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, light-colored stools, joint pain, and jaundice are some of the signs and symptoms of acute hepatitis. It can take decades for chronic viral hepatitis symptoms to appear.
A: Hepatitis A and E infections nearly always result in recovery and don't require treatment. When patients contract the B, C, or D viruses, their infection may become chronic, and some may develop cirrhosis or liver cancer. On the other hand, the infection is curable if caught early enough.
A: Even the severe cases of acute HBV infection appear to benefit from the use of lamivudine, adefovir dipivoxil, and other antiviral therapies.
A: Acute hepatitis is most frequently caused by infectious hepatitis A and E, which typically have a self-limited clinical course and resolve in two to four weeks with supportive care.
