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888-952-2763 •Monday-Friday: 8:00 AM-4:30 PM ETLabsMD offers several tests to aid in the diagnosis of infectious hepatitis: Hepatitis Profile, Hepatitis B Profile, Hepatitis B Antibody Test and the Hepatitis C Antibody Test.
Hepatitis Profile $896.43 | |
Hepatitis B Profile $-434.51 | |
Hepatitis B Antibody Test $42.86 | |
Hepatitis C Antibody Test $-378.51 | |
View Included Tests | |
Our Ultimate STD Panel also includes the Hepatitis B Surface Antigen and the Hepatitis C Antibody Tests: |
|
Ultimate STD Panel $-183.00 |
Viral hepatitis is an infection of the liver by a virus. The liver becomes inflamed. Often it is tender and swollen.
The most common types of viral hepatitis are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Each of these types of hepatitis is caused by a different virus. Another virus--the delta hepatitis virus--causes hepatitis only if you are already infected with hepatitis B.
The viruses that cause each type of hepatitis are spread in different ways.
Hepatitis can be spread by people who do not have any symptoms and may not know they carry the virus. These people are called asymptomatic carriers.
You may not have any symptoms of hepatitis for weeks to months after you are infected with the virus. Or you may never have any obvious symptoms.
If you have symptoms, the illness usually begins with these flulike symptoms:
Other possible early symptoms are:
After several days you may also have some of these symptoms:
Your health care provider will ask about your medical history and your symptoms. Your provider needs to make sure that liver inflammation is not from the side effects of medicines you are taking or from the abuse of drugs such as alcohol.
Your provider will examine your skin and eyes for signs of hepatitis. Your provider will check your abdomen to see if the liver is enlarged or tender.
You may have lab tests:
The usual treatment is rest and having a healthy diet. In addition, your health care provider will recommend that you avoid alcohol for at least 6 months. Usually it is not necessary to stay at the hospital.
Doctors are continuing to search for the best ways to treat hepatitis. Antiviral drugs, such as interferon, may be used for some types of viral hepatitis. As new information becomes available, treatments change. You should discuss possible new treatments with your health care provider.
It usually takes 1 to 3 months to recover from an acute case of hepatitis.
Hepatitis B or C can become chronic, causing inflammation of the liver that lasts longer than 6 months. These 2 types of hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis, which causes permanent damage to the liver. In severe cases, some liver function may be lost. Infection with the hepatitis B or C viruses also increases your risk for liver cancer.
You can get shots to help prevent hepatitis A and B. In some cases another type of shot (gamma globulin) may be needed. If you have hepatitis, your health care provider may recommend that your close friends and family get shots to prevent getting hepatitis from you.
To avoid spreading the disease to others:
If you do not have hepatitis, but someone in your household does, take the following precautions:
Hepatitis Profile $199.99 | |
Hepatits B Profile $144.99 | |
Hepatits B Antibody Test $97.99 |
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Hepatits C Antibody Test $97.99 |
Copyright � 2005 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
Hepatitis is a general term that means inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis A, B, and C are infections of the liver caused by different viruses. The blood tests described here help determine if hepatitis is caused by one of these viruses.
There are many possible causes of hepatitis. These blood tests help determine if the liver inflammation is resulting from infection with the hepatitis A, B, or C viruses.
You don't need to take any special precautions or change your diet before your have this test.
A small amount of blood is taken from your arm with a needle. The blood is collected in tubes and sent to a lab.
Having this test will take just a few minutes of your time. There is no risk of getting AIDS, hepatitis, or any other blood-borne disease from this test.
Ask your health care provider when and how you will get the result of your test.
The results of the various hepatitis blood tests are summarized below. These tests are divided into two groups. The first group tests for the presence of the virus in the blood. These are called antigen tests. The second group tests for the body's reaction to the infection. These are called antibody tests.
Test results are only one part of a larger picture that takes into account your medical history and current health. Sometimes a test needs to be repeated to check the first result. Talk to your health care provider about your result and ask questions.
If your test results are not normal, ask your health care provider:
Copyright � 2005 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver. The liver becomes inflamed, tender, and swollen.
Hepatitis A is caused by the hepatitis A virus. The virus can be spread by contact with infected bowel movements. An infected person may pass hepatitis A to others by not washing his or her hands, especially after using the bathroom. You might get the virus from:
Symptoms usually appear 2 to 6 weeks after you are infected with the virus. Hepatitis A is sometimes so mild that there are no obvious symptoms.
If you have symptoms, the illness usually begins with these flulike symptoms:
Smokers may lose their taste for cigarettes.
After several days you may also have these symptoms:
Your health care provider will ask about your medical history and symptoms. Your provider will examine your skin and eyes for signs of hepatitis. Your provider will check your abdomen to see if the liver is enlarged or tender.
You will have blood tests. If blood tests show that your liver is not working normally, your provider will do tests to find out if a virus is causing the problems. Tests that find a virus will also determine the type of virus. (Several types of viruses can cause hepatitis.)
The usual treatment is rest. In addition, your health care provider will recommend that you avoid alcohol for at least 6 months. You will not have to stay in the hospital unless you have a very serious case.
Antibiotics are not useful in treating hepatitis A.
Recovery from hepatitis A usually takes 4 to 8 weeks. The disease rarely has lasting effects such as permanent liver damage.
Hepatitis that lasts more than 6 months usually isn't caused by hepatitis A infection.
Hepatitis A can be spread only by people with active infections. It is usually contagious for 2 to 3 weeks before symptoms appear and for 2 to 3 weeks afterward. During this time, others can pick up the virus by touching anything contaminated with bowel movements of the infected person.
You can get shots that prevent hepatitis A. Two shots are given 6 months apart. Health care providers usually recommend that you get the shots if:
If you are planning travel to an area where hepatitis A is common, you should have the first shot at least 6 months before you start your travels so that there is time for the second shot before you leave. If you have less than 6 months before your departure, get at least 1 shot of the vaccine at least 2 weeks before you leave. This vaccine protects against hepatitis A for many years.
An injection of immune (gamma) globulin is usually given right after you have been exposed to contaminated food or have had contact with an infected person. Immune globulin may not always prevent hepatitis A, but it may make it milder. The protection begins almost immediately but it lasts for just 2 to 4 months.
If you have hepatitis A, always wash your hands thoroughly after using the restroom. This will help prevent spread of the disease to others.
If someone in your household has hepatitis, take the following precautions:
Hepatitis Profile $896.43 | |
Hepatitis B Profile $-434.51 | |
Hepatitis B Antibody Test $42.86 | |
Hepatitis C Antibody Test $-378.51 | |
View Included Tests | |
Our Ultimate STD Panel also includes the Hepatitis B Surface Antigen and the Hepatitis C Antibody Tests: |
|
Ultimate STD Panel $-183.00 |
Related Topics: Epididymitis, Genital Herpes, Gonorrhea and Chlamydia, HIV, HIV-2, HIV Recent Exposure, HIV-2 Recent Exposure, STD Testing, STD Testing for Recent Exposure, Syphillis, Urethritis, Vaginitis, Viral Hepatitis.
Copyright � 2005 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.