HEPATITIS

Hepatitis (plural hepatitides) implies inflammation of the liver characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells in the tissue of the organ. The name is from the Greek hepar the root being hepat- , meaning liver, and suffix -itis, meaning “inflammation” (The condition can be self-limiting (healing on its own) or can progress to fibrosis (scarring) andcirrhosis.

Hepatitis may occur with limited or no symptoms (sub-clinically), but often leads to jaundice, anorexia (poor appetite) and malaise. Hepatitis is acute when it lasts less than six months and chronic when it persists longer. A group of viruses known as the hepatitis viruses cause most cases of hepatitis worldwide, but it can also be due to toxins (notably alcohol, certain medications and plants), other infections andautoimmune diseases.

Acute

Initial features are of nonspecific flu-like symptoms, common to almost all acuteviral infections and may include malaise, muscle and joint aches, fever, nausea orvomiting, diarrhea, and headache. More specific symptoms, which can be present in acute hepatitis from any cause, are: profound loss of appetite, aversion to smokingamong smokers, dark urine, yellowing of the eyes and skin (i.e., jaundice) andabdominal discomfort. Physical findings are usually minimal, apart from jaundice in a third and tender hepatomegaly (swelling of the liver) in about 10%. Some exhibitlymphadenopathy (enlarged lymph nodes, in 5%) or splenomegaly (enlargement of the spleen, in 5%).[2]

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.[3]

A small proportion of people with acute hepatitis progress to acute liver failure, in which the liver is unable to clear harmful substances from the circulation (leading to confusion and coma due to hepatic encephalopathy) and produce blood proteins (leading to peripheral edema and bleeding). This may become life-threatening and occasionally requires a liver transplant.

Chronic

Chronic hepatitis often leads nonspecific symptoms such as malaise, tiredness and weakness, and often leads to no symptoms at all. It is commonly identified on blood tests performed either for screening or to evaluate nonspecific symptoms. The occurrence of jaundice indicates advanced liver damage. On physical examination there may be enlargement of the liver.[4]

Extensive damage and scarring of liver (i.e. cirrhosis) leads to weight loss, easy bruising and bleeding tendencies, peripheral edema (swelling of the legs) and accumulation of ascites (fluid in the abdominal cavity). Eventually, cirrhosis may lead to various complications: esophageal varices (enlarged veins in the wall of the esophagus that can cause life-threatening bleeding) hepatic encephalopathy(confusion and coma) and hepatorenal syndrome (kidney dysfunction).

Acne, abnormal menstruation, lung scarring, inflammation of the thyroid gland andkidneys may be present in women with autoimmune hepatitis.

Acute Causes

Viral hepatitis:
Hepatitis A through E (more than 95% of viral cause)
Herpes simplex
Cytomegalovirus
Epstein-Barr
yellow fever virus
adenoviruses
Non viral infection
toxoplasma
Leptospira
Q fever[5]
rocky mountain spotted fever[6]
Alcohol
Toxins: Amanita toxin in mushrooms, carbon tetrachloride, asafetida
Drugs: Paracetamol, amoxycillin, antituberculosis medicines, minocycline and many others (see longer list below).
Ischemic hepatitis (circulatory insufficiency)
Pregnancy
Auto immune conditions, e.g., Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
Metabolic diseases, e.g., Wilson’s disease

Chronic Causes

Viral hepatitis: Hepatitis B with or without hepatitis D, hepatitis C (neither hepatitis A norhepatitis E causes chronic hepatitis)
Autoimmune
Autoimmune hepatitis
Alcohol
Drugs
methyldopa
nitrofurantoin
isoniazid
ketoconazole
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
Heredity
Wilson’s disease
alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency
Primary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis occasionally mimic chronic hepatitis