Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition that affects the liver. The most common hepatitis is viral hepatitis, of which there are five different types: Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E. Autoimmune hepatitis occurs when your body develops antibodies that work against your live tissue. These antibodies manifest as a secondary result of medications or drugs, or toxins and excessive use of alcohol. The treatment of this condition depends largely on which variation of the disease you have.
Symptoms can vary and develop slowly or chronically depending on the strain. You may experience signs such as fatigue and flu-like symptoms, abdominal pain and a lack of appetite. Weight loss, dark urine, pale stools and some signs of jaundice may also be present. Naturally, when you are experiencing some or all of these symptoms, you'll need to be examined by a doctor. They can then determine through tests, ultrasounds, and biopsies and further examination what kind of hepatitis you may be suffering from. Hepatitis can have severe complications and needs medical treatment, however, there are vaccines available for some of the strains and is key in preventing the development of this disease.
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