Acute viral hepatitis [Akute Virushepatitiden]

Viral hepatitis belongs to the most common infectious diseases worldwide. While the diagnosis of acute hepatitis A, B and E is based on specific IgM-antibodies, diagnosis of acute hepatitis C is difficult and requires serologic follow-up. Viral hepatitis presents with non-specific prodromi of fatigue, myalgia and arthralgia followed by jaundice and right upper quadrant pain. While acute hepatitis A is inapparent in childhood, the majority of adults develop icteric hepatitis. Acute hepatitis A infection is cleared completely. In western countries hepatitis B is commonly transmitted parenterally and sexually, and acute hepatitis is eliminated spontaneously in 95% of acute infections. Icteric acute hepatitis B is found in 25% of cases and fulminant liver failure develops in less than 1%. Today, hepatitis C is transmitted mainly by iv-drug abuse and causes chronic hepatitis in 60-80% of infections. Acute HCV infection is rarely diagnosed since it is commonly asymptomatic. © Springer Medizin Verlag 2007.