CAUSES OF NONVIRAL HEPATITIS

Causes of Nonviral Hepatitis
Alcohol
Hepatitis can be caused by liver
damage from excessive alcohol
consumption. This is sometimes
referred to as alcoholic hepatitis.
The alcohol causes the liver to
swell and become inflamed. Other
toxic causes include overuse of medication or exposure
to poisons.
Autoimmune Disease
The immune system may mistake the liver as a harmful
object and begin to attack it, hindering liver function.
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Common Symptoms of Hepatitis
If you have forms of hepatitis that
are usually chronic (hepatitis B and
C), you may not have symptoms in
the beginning. Symptoms may not
occur until liver damage occurs.
Signs and symptoms of acute
hepatitis appear quickly. They
include:
fatigue
flu-like symptoms
dark urine
pale stool
abdominal pain
loss of appetite
unexplained weight loss
yellow skin and eyes, which may be signs of
jaundice
Since chronic hepatitis develops slowly, these signs and
symptoms may be too subtle to notice.
How Is Hepatitis Diagnosed?
Physical Exam
During a physical examination, your
doctor may press down gently on
your abdomen to see if there’s pain
or tenderness. Your doctor may
also feel to see if your liver is
enlarged. If your skin or eyes are
yellow, your doctor will note this during the exam.
Liver Biopsy
A liver biopsy is an invasive procedure that involves the
doctor taking a sample of tissue from your liver. This is
a closed procedure. In other words, it can be done
through the skin with a needle and doesn’t require
surgery. This test allows your doctor to determine if an
infection or inflammation is present or if liver damage
has occurred.
Liver Function Tests
Liver function tests use blood samples to determine
how efficiently the liver works. These tests check how
the liver clears blood waste, protein, and enzymes. High
liver enzyme levels may indicate that the liver is
stressed or damaged.
Ultrasound
An abdominal ultrasound uses ultrasound waves to
create an image of the organs within the abdomen.
This test will reveal fluid in the abdomen, an enlarged
liver, or liver damage.
Blood Tests
Blood tests used to detect the presence of hepatitis
virus antibodies and antigen in the blood will indicate or
confirm which virus is the cause of the hepatitis.
Viral Antibody Testing
Further viral antibody testing may be needed to
determine if a specific type of the hepatitis virus is
present.