Hepatitis A

It is caused by hepatitis A virus and most common in children in developing countries, but is seen more frequently in people of all ages. Hepatitis A is thought to be spread by a virus from an infected person's feces directly or indirectly contaminating food, raw shellfish, drinking water, cooking utensils or someone else's fingers. Hepatitis A causes acute infection.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is the most serious form of hepatitis caused by the hepatitis B virus and is spread through sexual contact, blood transfusion or exposure to an infected person's blood via cuts, open sores; needle sharing, razor sharing or ear piercing tools. Additionally, hepatitis B can be spread from mother to child at birth.

Ninety percent of hepatitis B cases are acute, while the other 10 percent are chronic and may progress to cirrhosis (a disease of the liver caused by chronic damage to its cells), liver failure or liver cancer.

Hepatitis C

Formerly called non-A non-B hepatitis; hepatitis C is transmitted primarily by direct blood contact - via blood transfusion or and contaminated needles. Less common ways are through sexual contact or from mother to child at birth. Chronic cases of hepatitis C may result in cirrhosis.

Hepatitis D

Formerly called delta hepatitis, hepatitis D is found mainly in intravenous drug users who are carriers of the hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis D can cause both acute and chronic disease.

Hepatitis E

Formerly called enteric or epidemic non-A, non-B hepatitis, hepatitis E resembles hepatitis A, but is caused by a different virus from hepatitis C and is commonly found in the Indian Ocean area. Hepatitis E is considered an acute condition.

Non viral Hepatitis

Two main types of nonviral hepatitis are alcoholic hepatitis and toxic/drug-induced hepatitis, while two less common types of nonviral hepatitis are autoimmune hepatitis and granulomatous hepatitis.

Alcoholic Hepatitis

This type of hepatitis may not develop in person until several decades of alcohol abuse while in a few individuals it may develop within a year after onset of excessive drinking.

Toxic/Drug-Induced Hepatitis

This type of hepatitis is caused after inhalation or ingestion of a toxin, such as carbon tetrachloride, vinyl chloride, poisonous mushrooms or the use of certain medications.

Autoimmune hepatitis

It is a condition in which the liver is attacked by the body's immune system.

Granulomatous Hepatitis

It is a condition in which there is an abnormal collection of white blood cells in the liver.

In acute phase of hepatitis there may be following symptoms:

• mild fever
• muscle or joint aches
• nausea
• vomiting
• loss of appetite
• slight abdominal pain
• diarrhea
• fatigue

As the condition worsens, the person shows additional symptoms like,

• jaundice (yellowed skin, mucous membranes and eye-whites)
• dark urine
• light colored stools that may contain pus
• itching

Diagnosis of hepatitis depends on thorough medical history with various lab tests, such as blood tests, liver function tests and ultrasonography of abdomen. Additional lab tests include Australian antigen test (HbsAg).

If needed, the doctor may also perform a liver biopsy, where a small portion of the liver would be taken for further examination under a microscope.