Liver Hepatitis
                     Liver 
Hepatis
Dr. Punit Singla 
Liver Transplant and GI 
Surgeon
MBBS, MS, DNB (Surgical 
gastroenterology)
What Is Liver Hepatitis?
•Inflammation of the liver is 
generally referred to as Hepatitis.
•A number of viruses (viral 
hepatitis), substances, 
medications, alcohol, certain 
genetic abnormalities, an 
overactive immune system that 
mistakenly attacks the liver 
(autoimmune hepatitis), and other 
factors can result in liver 
inflammation.
•Hepatitis can be Chronic, which is 
a long-term condition that typically 
causes more modest symptoms 
and increasing liver damage, 
or Acute, which flares up quickly 
and then goes away.
What is Acute Hepatitis?
•Acute Hepatitis is a result of liver 
inflammation caused by a viral attack.
•The inflammation impacts liver function such 
as nutrient processing, blood filtration, etc. 
Initially many people with hepatitis do not 
display any symptoms and thus are unaware 
of the infection. 
•Symptoms with an acute infection occur 
between 2 weeks to 6 months after being 
infected.
•These symptoms might be relatively mild 
and would go away in a few days or weeks.
•Acute Hepatitis is caused by infection with a 
virus (viral hepatitis A, B, C, D, or E), 
Overdose of drugs (such as acetaminophen, 
paracetamol), chemical exposure (such as 
dry-cleaning chemicals, and some wild 
mushrooms), heavy alcohol abuse, toxins, 
and certain medical conditions too.
Diagnosis & Treatment of Acute Liver Hepatitis 
:
It is important to understand the correct cause of hepatitis in 
order to treat it correctly. Doctors will have to conduct a variety 
of tests to diagnose the situation correctly. The tests include:
•Physical examination to determine a swollen, enlarged liver.
•Blood tests to look for the presence of hepatitis viruses, as 
well as blood tests, to check for high liver enzymes that occur 
when the liver is damaged or infected.
•A liver biopsy is done to know the exact liver damage & 
confirm if there is any swelling.
Treatment: 
•The most common infectious causes of acute hepatitis are 
hepatitis A and E, which typically have a self-limited clinical 
course and resolve in 2 to 4 weeks with supportive therapy such 
as IV fluids, antiemetics, and symptomatic medication. 
•Alcohol, other drugs that can be hepatotoxic, as well as over-
the-counter supplements, should be avoided by patients.
 
•They should also be educated on the transmission of infections 
to others.
What is Chronic hepatitis?
People might not recover fully from acute hepatitis and develop 
chronic hepatitis, as the liver continues to sustain more damage 
and inflammation. Hepatitis is considered chronic if symptoms 
persist for more than six months. Chronic hepatitis can last for 
a year. Common causes can include hepatitis B and C viruses 
and certain drugs.
Most people affected with Chronic Hepatitis may not show 
symptoms until it starts affecting liver function. Some common 
symptoms include:
•Excess fat cells in the liver not because of alcohol 
(nonalcoholic steatohepatitis)
•Symptoms of Acute Liver Hepatitis
•An enlarged spleen
•Redness of the palms
•Accumulation of fluid within the abdomen (ascites)
•Jaundice
•Alcohol-related liver disease
Diagnosis of Chronic Liver Hepatitis:
Due to the fact that chronic hepatitis typically 
does not display any early signs, the condition is 
frequently identified by a regular blood test. If 
your doctor thinks you could have chronic 
hepatitis, they may check you for jaundice, 
soreness in the abdomen (particularly in the 
right upper corner, which is where the liver is), 
and indications of fluid that collect in the 
abdomen during liver failure.
Diagnostic procedures might include:
•Laboratory tests for specific viruses
•Blood tests
•Liver function tests
•Liver biopsy to assess the level of cirrhosis,
 scarring, and inflammation, as well as any other 
underlying reason.
Treatment of Chronic Liver Hepatitis :
•Chronic hepatitis focuses on preventing the conditions to 
worsen further or progressing to cirrhosis and liver failure.
 
• It also aims at the treatment of the cause and more 
complicated situations, such as ascites and hepatic 
encephalopathy, in people with cirrhosis.
•Antiviral medicines are used to treat chronic hepatitis B 
and C. The success rates for the newest medications are 
quite high. 
•Unless blood tests reveal you are already immune to these 
viruses, those with hepatitis C should get the hepatitis A 
and B vaccines.
•Hepatitis A or B symptoms can become more severe in 
you than in someone who does not have hepatitis C.
•Medication-related Chronic hepatitis requires a change 
in the drug causing it. 
•Doctors advise making changes to one’s lifestyle, most 
notably abstaining from alcohol if alcohol is the root cause.
•Overall a healthy lifestyle, with a balanced diet and good 
physical exercise can be of great help.
For more info: 
https://www.livertransplantsurgeon.co.in/
Contact us: +91-9650907765
Email id: [email protected]
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