Hepatitis: Causes, Symptoms, Types & Long-Term Risks

Hepatitis means liver inflammation. It can be acute (sudden, <6 months) or chronic (persistent >6 months). Causes range from viruses to toxins, drugs, alcohol, and autoimmunity. Impaired liver function ripples through every body system.

Common Symptoms (Acute & Chronic)

• Fatigue, malaise (often profound)
• Nausea, vomiting, appetite loss
• Right upper quadrant abdominal pain/discomfort
• Jaundice (yellow skin/sclera) — bilirubin buildup
• Dark urine (bilirubinuria), pale/clay stools (reduced bilirubin excretion)
• Pruritus (itching) — bile salts in skin
• Joint pain, low-grade fever (immune-mediated)
• Spider angiomas, palmar erythema (chronic)

Viral Hepatitis A–E: Quick Reference

Virus	Transmission	Vaccine?	Chronic?	Treatment
HAV	Fecal-oral	Yes (2-dose)	No	Supportive
HBV	Blood, sexual, vertical	Yes (3-dose)	Yes (5–10% adults)	Antivirals (entecavir, tenofovir), PEG-IFN
HCV	Blood (primary)	No	Yes (75–85%)	DAAs: >95% cure
HDV	Requires HBV	No (HBV vaccine prevents)	Yes	Bulevirtide, PEG-IFN
HEV	Fecal-oral (zoonotic)	Yes (China only)	Rare (immunocompromised)	Ribavirin (chronic)

Non-Viral Causes

• Alcoholic hepatitis (heavy alcohol)
• Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) (acetaminophen, isoniazid, statins, herbs, immunotherapy)
• Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH)
• NAFLD/NASH (metabolic)
• Ischemic, Wilson's, alpha-1 antitrypsin

Chronic Hepatitis Consequences

Unchecked inflammation → fibrosis → cirrhosis → liver failure / hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Early diagnosis, cause-specific treatment, and surveillance (ultrasound + AFP q6mo for cirrhosis) save lives.