Editing Hepatitis (section)

==== Acute ====
In healthy patients, 95–99% recover with no long-lasting effects, and antiviral treatment is not warranted.<ref name="Harrison's Principles, chapter 360 (Acute Viral)" /> Age and comorbid conditions can result in a more prolonged and severe illness. Certain patients warrant hospitalization, especially those who present with clinical signs of ascites, peripheral edema, and hepatic encephalopathy, and laboratory signs of [[hypoglycemia]], prolonged [[prothrombin time]], low serum [[Albumin human|albumin]], and very high serum [[bilirubin]].<ref name="Harrison's Principles, chapter 360 (Acute Viral)" />

In these rare, more severe acute cases, patients have been successfully treated with antiviral therapy similar to that used in cases of chronic hepatitis B, with nucleoside analogues such as [[entecavir]] or [[Tenofovir disoproxil|tenofovir]]. As there is a dearth of clinical trial data and the drugs used to treat are prone to developing [[Drug resistance|resistance]], experts recommend reserving treatment for severe acute cases, not mild to moderate.<ref name="Harrison's Principles, chapter 360 (Acute Viral)" />