Hepatitis, with jaundice

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver associated with viral infection, toxic substances, or an autoimmune condition. There are several types currently recognized, and more may be added in the future. Symptoms include jaundice, or yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, fatigue and loss of appetite. Jaundice results when excess amounts of the bile pigment bilirubin circulate in the blood stream, causing a yellowish appearance of the skin and the whites of the eyes. Hepatitis comes in three types. Type A, or infectious hepatitis, often occurs after infection from food or drink. Type B, serum hepatitis, most often occurs after exposure to infected blood through contaminated needles. Type C, formerly called non-A, non-B hepatitis is being more widely diagnosed in recent years. The symptoms of hepatitis C are often less clear-cut and can best be diagnosed by laboratory tests. If you have or suspect hepatitis, you must consult with your health care practitioner.