Do you get a fever with viral hepatitis?

Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
Updated on January 25, 2025
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Viral hepatitis, when liver function is significantly abnormal and during acute bouts of illness, may result in some patients experiencing mild or high fever, which is transient. Common symptoms include fatigue, aversion to oils, nausea, abdominal bloating, and poor appetite. Clinical symptoms vary among different types of viral hepatitis. Common types include Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Hepatitis A and E are acute self-limited forms of hepatitis, which generally recover within four to eight weeks. Hepatitis B and C, however, can easily become chronic.

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What are the manifestations of viral hepatitis?

Firstly, viral hepatitis is a category of diseases, mainly consisting of five types: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis D, and Hepatitis E. Hepatitis A and E are primarily acute hepatitis, while Hepatitis B, C, and D, especially Hepatitis B and C, are mainly chronic processes. If there is an acute outbreak, viral hepatitis generally shares some common characteristics such as jaundice, nausea, aversion to oil, fatigue, and some even exhibit fever. To confirm which type of viral hepatitis it is, one can undergo a blood test to screen for a comprehensive hepatitis virus panel.

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Is viral hepatitis contagious?

Viral hepatitis is contagious, with different types of viral hepatitis transmitted in different ways. The common types of viral hepatitis include Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Hepatitis A and E are acute self-limiting liver diseases, which are contagious during the symptomatic phase and also during the incubation period, primarily transmitted through the fecal-oral route via the digestive tract. Therefore, for those infected with Hepatitis A or E, gastrointestinal isolation and symptomatic treatment are required. Hepatitis B and C are transmitted through blood, sexual contact, and from mother to child, with general contact not leading to infection.

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What indicators are checked for viral hepatitis?

For viral hepatitis, the primary index to check is liver function. If there are obvious abnormalities in liver function, further clarification is needed to determine what caused these liver function abnormalities. The most common pathogens include Hepatitis A, B, C, E, D, and non-A non-E, etc. Typical hospitals carry out tests for Hepatitis A, B, C, and E. Hepatitis A and E are acute hepatitis; if IgM antibodies are positive, it can indicate a recent infection. However, if IgG antibodies are positive, their significance is not very substantial. If Hepatitis B or C causes the liver damage, further tests such as HBV-DNA, HCV-RNA, etc., need to be conducted to clarify the cause of the liver condition. Additionally, regular follow-up exams like ultrasound and AFP are required.

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Infectious Disease
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Is viral hepatitis transmitted through saliva?

Regarding the question of whether viral hepatitis can be transmitted through saliva, it depends on the actual situation. Some types of viral hepatitis that are transmitted through the fecal-oral route in the digestive tract might also be transmitted through saliva, such as Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E, which are acute viral hepatitis transmitted through the fecal-oral route. Generally, saliva is considered contagious in these cases. However, for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and Hepatitis D, these types of viral hepatitis are not generally transmitted through the digestive tract, and therefore, saliva is not considered contagious.

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Can you smoke with viral hepatitis?

Patients with viral hepatitis should not smoke or drink alcohol. They need to rest well, ensure sufficient sleep, eat light and easily digestible foods, and avoid overly greasy, irritating, or moldy foods. The variety of food should be abundant and nutritionally balanced, with meals distributed reasonably. Moreover, treatment should be tailored according to the type of viral hepatitis, aiming to eliminate the cause of the disease and strengthen liver protection and enzyme reduction. Different types of viral hepatitis require different treatment approaches; for example, hepatitis B and C may need antiviral treatment, whereas hepatitis A and E mainly require enhanced liver protection and enzyme reduction treatments.