Editing Hepatitis (section)

=== Acute hepatitis ===
Acute viral hepatitis follows three distinct phases:
# The initial [[Prodrome|prodromal phase]] (preceding symptoms) involves [[non-specific]] and [[flu-like]] symptoms common to many acute viral infections. These include [[Fatigue (medical)|fatigue]], [[nausea]], [[vomiting]], poor appetite, joint pain, and headaches.<ref name="Harrison's Principles, chapter 360 (Acute Viral)" /><ref name="CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment" /> Fever, when present, is most common in cases of hepatitis A and E.<ref name="Harrison's Principles, chapter 360 (Acute Viral)" /> Late in this phase, people can experience liver-specific symptoms, including [[choluria]] (dark urine) and clay-colored stools.<ref name="Harrison's Principles, chapter 360 (Acute Viral)" /><ref name="CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment" />
# [[Jaundice|Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes]] follow the prodrome after about 1–2 weeks and can last for up to 4 weeks.<ref name="Harrison's Principles, chapter 360 (Acute Viral)" /><ref name="CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment" /> The non-specific symptoms seen in the prodromal typically resolve by this time, but people will develop an [[hepatomegaly|enlarged liver]] and right upper abdominal pain or discomfort.<ref name="Harrison's Principles, chapter 360 (Acute Viral)" /> 10–20% of people will also experience an [[Splenomegaly|enlarged spleen]], while some people will also experience a mild unintentional weight loss.<ref name="Harrison's Principles, chapter 360 (Acute Viral)" /><ref name="Khalili & Burman" />
# The recovery phase is characterized by resolution of the clinical symptoms of hepatitis with persistent elevations in [[Liver function tests|liver lab values]] and potentially a persistently enlarged liver.<ref name="Harrison's Principles, chapter 360 (Acute Viral)" /> All cases of hepatitis A and E are expected to fully resolve after 1–2 months.<ref name="Harrison's Principles, chapter 360 (Acute Viral)" /> Most hepatitis B cases are also self-limiting and will resolve in 3–4 months.  Few cases of hepatitis C will resolve completely.<ref name="Harrison's Principles, chapter 360 (Acute Viral)" />

Occasionally, however, acute hepatitis can cause [[liver failure]]. Liver failure can be life threatening and may lead to a [[coma]] or even death.<ref>{{cite book| title = Exploring Life Sciences| volume = 6|pages = 412-413|ISBN = 0-7614-7141-3|publisher = Marshall Cavendish}}</ref>

Both [[drug-induced hepatitis]] and [[autoimmune hepatitis]] can present very similarly to acute viral hepatitis, with slight variations in symptoms depending on the cause.<ref name="Fontana & Hayashi">{{Cite journal|last1=Fontana|first1=Robert|last2=Hayashi|first2=Paul|date=2014-05-01|title=Clinical Features, Diagnosis, and Natural History of Drug-Induced Liver Injury|journal=Seminars in Liver Disease|language=en|volume=34|issue=2|pages=134–144|doi=10.1055/s-0034-1375955|pmid=24879979|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name="Manns Lohse Vergani">{{Cite journal|last1=Manns|first1=Michael P.|last2=Lohse|first2=Ansgar W.|last3=Vergani|first3=Diego|title=Autoimmune hepatitis – Update 2015|journal=Journal of Hepatology|volume=62|issue=1|pages=S100–S111|doi=10.1016/j.jhep.2015.03.005|pmid=25920079|year=2015|doi-access=free}}</ref> Cases of drug-induced hepatitis can manifest with systemic signs of an allergic reaction including rash, fever, [[serositis]] (inflammation of membranes lining certain organs), elevated [[Eosinophil granulocyte|eosinophils]] (a type of white blood cell), and [[Bone marrow suppression|suppression of bone marrow activity]].<ref name="Fontana & Hayashi" />