Hepatitis

Acute and chronic hepatitis can damage your liver and increase your risk for long-term complications, including liver failure. At Wake Endoscopy, with offices in Clayton, Raleigh, Wake Forest, Wilson, and Cary, North Carolina, diagnostic blood tests are available in-office to accurately diagnose hepatitis. The skilled gastroenterology team personalizes a care plan to manage your symptoms and improve the function of your liver. They also offer immunizations to reduce your risk for certain viral hepatitis infections. Call the Wake Endoscopy office nearest you to schedule a hepatitis consultation, or book an appointment online today. 

What is hepatitis, and how does it relate to liver disease?

Hepatitis describes inflammation in the liver, the organ that filters your blood, fights off infections, and processes nutrients from the foods you eat. Persistent inflammation can damage your liver and affect its function.

In cases of viral hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E, the root cause of inflammation is a virus. Viruses spread through contaminated food and water or personal contact with an infected person.  

You can also develop other types of hepatitis due to excessive alcohol use, certain medications, environmental toxins, genetic diseases, or an autoimmune disease. A very common cause of hepatitis is Fatty Liver Disease, aka Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). 

Wake Endoscopy provides in-office consultation to diagnose the type of liver disease you may have, offer treatment, and determine the extent of liver damage with a liver fibroscan. A liver fibroscan is a specialized test offered in our office that uses ultrasound to determine the amount of scarring in the liver, which has a big impact on a patient’s prognosis and treatment plan. 

The experienced gastroenterologists customize a treatment plan to ease any symptoms you have and protect the health and function of your liver. They also offer guidance to prevent the spread of hepatitis to others.

When should I seek medical attention for hepatitis?

Schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Wake Endoscopy if you have symptoms of hepatitis, such as:

• Fever
• Joint pain
• Abdominal pain
• Dark-colored urine
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Yellowing of your eyes or skin (jaundice)

It’s also possible to have hepatitis without experiencing any symptoms. If you have concerns about a viral infection, you can meet with the team for further evaluation and guidance.

In addition to blood testing, the team offers ultrasounds, fibroscans,  and other imaging tests to check your liver for inflammation. They can also perform minimally invasive surgery to remove a sample of liver tissue for further examination under a microscope.

How is hepatitis treated?

Your treatment plan for hepatitis depends on which type you have, the severity of your symptoms, and whether your condition is acute or chronic.

Treatment for acute viral hepatitis often starts with getting plenty of rest and drinking extra fluids until the virus resolves on its own. Chronic hepatitis may require prescription medications or surgery to address liver damage.

The Wake Endoscopy team can recommend lifestyle changes to support the health of your liver. For instance, if your hepatitis relates to heavy alcohol use, you need to stop drinking to prevent liver failure. Other lifestyle changes are needed for fatty liver disease. 

The providers also offer vaccines that can prevent hepatitis A and B infections.

Call Wake Endoscopy to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for hepatitis or request an appointment online today.