A few patients notice dark urine and light-colored stools, followed by jaundice in which the skin and whites of the eyes appear yellow. Itching of the skin may be present. With the onset of jaundice, other symptoms tend to subside. Some people may lose 5 to 10 pounds during the illness. If you have been exposed to or suspect that you have viral hepatitis, consult your physician who will examine you and order blood tests to confirm the diagnosis, identify the specific type of hepatitis, and advise you about diet and activity.
Most physicians can care for a patient with an ordinary case of viral hepatitis.
Each flare-up is usually less severe than the initial attack. About 70-80 deaths are caused by hepatitis A each year. The mortality rate of hepatitis D and B is higher than for hepatitis B alone. Cirrhosis is the final state of scarring which develops in chronic hepatitis. To determine how much scarring is present or how rapidly it may be progressing, a liver biopsy is usually necessary.