Most people recover completely from hepatitis. Hepatitis in pregnant women usually does not increase the risk of birth defects or other pregnancy problems, and infection of the baby in the uterus is rare. However, hepatitis E can be fatal to a pregnant woman during her third trimester. If the mother has hepatitis B, however, the baby is likely to contract the disease at birth. A hepatitis B vaccine now available will reduce these chances significantly if administered to the infant immediately after delivery.
Doctors sometimes recommend drug therapy for patients with certain types of hepatitis.
The drug interferon with ribavirin is commonly used to treat chronic cases of hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Interferon has been shown to help rid the body of the virus hepatitis C and reduce inflammation and liver damage in up to 48 percent of people with the chronic forms of the disease, thus reducing the risk of cirrhosis. For some hepatitis cases doctors prescribe corticosteroids to suppress inflammation. Use of these drugs to control hepatitis is controversial, however, because they may have side effects that harm the immune system. Almost every known drug has at one time or another been implicated as a cause of liver damage. If you currently have hepatitis, or if you have a history of liver disease or other liver problems, tell your doctor before taking any medication.