Viral Hepatitis (cont.)
What is the prognosis of viral hepatitis?
The prognosis of viral hepatitis for most patients is good. Symptoms of viral
hepatitis such as fatigue, poor appetite, nausea, and jaundice usually subside
in several weeks to months, without any specific treatment. In fact, virtually
all patients with acute infection with hepatitis A and most adults (greater than 95%)
with acute hepatitis B recover completely. Complete recovery from viral hepatitis means
- the hepatitis virus has been completely eliminated from the liver by the
body's immune system,
- the
inflammation in the liver subsides,
- the patient develops immunity to future infection with the same virus, and
- the patient
cannot transmit the infection to others.
Unfortunately, not all patients with viral hepatitis infections recover
completely. Five percent of patients with acute hepatitis B infection and 80% of
patients with acute hepatitis C infection develop chronic hepatitis.
Acute viral hepatitis needs no specific treatment. Patients who develop chronic
infection have chronic viral hepatitis and often need treatment to prevent
further liver damage.
What is acute fulminant hepatitis?
Rarely, individuals with acute infections with hepatitis A and hepatitis B develop severe
inflammation, and the liver fails (acute fulminant hepatitis). These patients
are extremely ill with the symptoms of acute hepatitis already described and the
additional problems of confusion or coma (due to the liver's failure to detoxify
chemicals) and bruising or bleeding (due to a lack of blood clotting factors).
In fact, up to 80% of people with acute fulminant hepatitis can die within days
to weeks; therefore, it is fortunate that acute fulminant hepatitis is rare. For
example, less than 0.5% of adults with acute infection with hepatitis B will develop
acute fulminant hepatitis.
Next: What is chronic viral hepatitis? »
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