Treatment:

Your doctor will discuss possible treatments with you, depending on the cause of your liver disease. Your doctor may recommend a high-calorie diet if you are losing weight.

Support Groups:

There are support groups for people with all types of hepatitis, which can help you learn about the latest treatments and better cope with having the disease.

See: Liver disease support groups

Expectations (prognosis):

For information on hepatitis outlook, see these articles:

• Alcoholic hepatitis
• Autoimmune hepatitis
• Delta agent (hepatitis D)
• Drug-induced hepatitis
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C

Complications:

• Liver cancer
• Liver failure
• Permanent liver damage, called cirrhosis

Other complications include:

• Esophageal varices that can bleed
• Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (fluid in the abdomen that becomes infected)

Calling your health care provider:

Seek immediate care if you:

• Have symptoms from too much acetaminophen or other medicines -- you may need to have your stomach pumped
• Vomit blood
• Have bloody or tarry stools
• Are confused or delirious

Call your doctor if:

• You have any symptoms of hepatitis or believe that you have been exposed to hepatitis A, B, or C.
• You cannot keep food down due to excessive vomiting. You may need to receive nutrition through a vein (intravenously).
• You feel sick and have travelled to Asia, Africa, South America, or Central America.