Viral Hepatitis

LabsMD 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	Add To Cart
Hepatitis B Profile $-434.51	Add To Cart
Hepatitis B Antibody Test $42.86	Add To Cart
Hepatitis C Antibody Test $-378.51	Add To Cart
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	Add To Cart

 

What is viral hepatitis?

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.

How does it occur?

The viruses that cause each type of hepatitis are spread in different ways.

• The hepatitis A virus can be spread by contact with infected bowel movements. An infected person may pass this type of hepatitis to others by not washing his or her hands, especially after using the bathroom. You might get the virus from food handled by an infected person, water contaminated with sewage, or shellfish taken from contaminated waters.
• You can get hepatitis B or C by direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person. For example, you can get it from having unprotected sex with someone infected with hepatitis B or C or by sharing needles for piercing, tattooing, or drug injection.

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.

What are the symptoms?

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:

• Loss of appetite
• Fever
• General aching
• Tiredness.

Other possible early symptoms are:

• Itching with or without hives
• Painful joints
• Loss of taste for cigarettes if you are a smoker.

After several days you may also have some of these symptoms:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Foul breath and bitter taste in the mouth
• Dark, brown urine
• Yellowish skin and eyes (jaundice)
• Pain just below the ribs on your right side, especially if you press on that part of your abdomen
• Bowel movements that are whitish or light yellow and may be looser than normal.

How is it diagnosed?

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:

• Blood tests, including tests to see what type of hepatitis you have
• Urine tests.

How is it treated?

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.

How long will the effects last?

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.

How can I take care of myself?

• Follow your health care provider's instructions for taking medicine to relieve your symptoms. When you have hepatitis, you need to avoid taking certain medicines (for example, acetaminophen). Ask your health care provider which medicines you can safely take for your symptoms (such as itching and nausea).
• Follow your provider's advice for how much rest you need and when you can return to your normal activities, including work or school. As your symptoms improve, you may gradually increase your level of activity. It is best to avoid too much physical exertion until your provider tells you it's OK.
• Eat small, high-protein, high-calorie meals, even when you feel nauseated. Sipping soft drinks or juices and sucking on hard candy may help you feel less nauseated.
• Do not drink alcohol unless your health care provider says it is safe.

What can be done to help prevent viral hepatitis?

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:

• Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after using the restroom.
• Do not share toothbrushes or razor blades with others.
• Avoid sexual contact with others until you are no longer contagious.
• Do not share needles or other drug equipment with others.

If you do not have hepatitis, but someone in your household does, take the following precautions:

• Ask your health care provider if you need to get a hepatitis vaccine or gamma globulin shot.
• Wear disposable gloves if you must have contact with the sick person's bowel movements or body fluids.
• Wash the infected person's clothing and bed linens separately from other laundry. Use very hot water and a strong detergent.
• Clean toilets and other bathroom surfaces with a disinfectant. Wear gloves when you clean. If possible, it's safest to have the infected person use a different bathroom from everyone else in the household.

Hepatitis Profile $199.99	Add To Cart
Hepatits B Profile $144.99	Add To Cart
Hepatits B Antibody Test $97.99	Add To Cart 33
Hepatits C Antibody Test $97.99	Add To Cart

 

Copyright � 2005 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.

Hepatitis A, B, and C Blood Tests

What are hepatitis A, B, and C blood tests?

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.

Why are these tests done?

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.

How do I prepare for this test?

You don't need to take any special precautions or change your diet before your have this test.

How is the test done?

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.

How will I get the test result?

Ask your health care provider when and how you will get the result of your test.

What do the test results mean?

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.

• Hepatitis A infection: A positive antigen test (called an HAV or hepatitis A virus test) and a positive antibody test (called an IgM anti-HAV antibody test) mean you currently have an acute hepatitis A infection. If you have had hepatitis in the past, your antigen test will be negative, but the antibody test will be positive.
• Hepatitis B infection: A positive antigen test (called an HbsAg or hepatitis B virus surface antigen test) and a positive antibody test (called IgM anti-HBc or IgM hepatitis B virus core antibody test) mean you currently have an acute hepatitis B infection. If you have had hepatitis for 6 months or more (chronic hepatitis), the antigen test will be positive but the antibody test will be negative. If you have had shots to protect you against hepatitis, the antigen test will be negative and the antibody test will be positive.
• Hepatitis C infection: A positive antibody test (called an anti-HCV or antibody to hepatitis C virus test) means you currently have an acute hepatitis C infection. To check for chronic infection, tests are done to measure the amounts of specific hepatitis C viral proteins (antigens) present in the blood. If these tests remain positive for several months, the disease is said to be chronic. In other words, your body wasn't able to completely clear the infection.

What if my test result is not normal?

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:

• Iif you need additional tests
• When you need to be tested again.

Copyright � 2005 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.

Hepatitis A

What is hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver. The liver becomes inflamed, tender, and swollen.

How does it occur?

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:

• Food handled by an infected person
• Water contaminated with sewage
• Shellfish taken from contaminated waters.

What are the symptoms?

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:

• Loss of appetite
• Fever
• General aching
• Tiredness.

Smokers may lose their taste for cigarettes.

After several days you may also have these symptoms:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Foul breath and bitter taste in the mouth
• Dark brown urine
• Yellowish skin and eyes (jaundice)
• Pain just below the ribs on your right side, especially if you press on that part of your abdomen
• Bowel movements that are whitish or light yellow and may be looser than normal.

How is it diagnosed?

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.)

How is it treated?

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.

How long will the effects last?

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.

How can I take care of myself?

• Follow your health care provider's instructions for taking medicine to relieve your symptoms. When you have hepatitis, you need to avoid taking certain medicines (for example, acetaminophen). Ask your health care provider which medicines you can safely take for your symptoms (such as itching and nausea).
• Follow your provider's advice for how much rest you need and when you can return to your normal activities, including work or school. As your symptoms improve, you may gradually increase your level of activity. It is best to avoid too much physical exertion until your provider tells you it's OK.
• Eat small, high-protein, high-calorie meals, even when you feel nauseated. Sipping soft drinks or juices and sucking on hard candy may help you feel less nauseated.
• Do not drink alcohol until your health care provider says it is safe.

What can be done to help prevent hepatitis A?

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:

• You travel or work in a developing country.
• You live in an area that has outbreaks of hepatitis A.
• You are a man who has sex with other men.
• You inject illegal drugs.
• You have chronic liver disease.
• You receive clotting factor concentrates because you have a clotting disorder, such as hemophilia.

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:

• Ask your health care provider if you need to get a hepatitis or gamma globulin shot.
• Wear disposable gloves if you must have contact with the sick person's bowel movements or body fluids.
• Wash the infected person's clothing and bed linens separately from other laundry. Use very hot water and a strong detergent.
• Clean contaminated toilets and other bathroom surfaces with a disinfectant. Wear gloves when you clean. If possible, it's safest to have the infected person use a different bathroom from everyone else in the household.

Hepatitis Profile $896.43	Add To Cart
Hepatitis B Profile $-434.51	Add To Cart
Hepatitis B Antibody Test $42.86	Add To Cart
Hepatitis C Antibody Test $-378.51	Add To Cart
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	Add To Cart

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.