What medical technique is used to diagnose acute hepatitis?

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Nguyen Van Anh - Radiologist - Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine - Vinmec Times City International Hospital

Acute hepatitis is a disease showing acute inflammation of the liver. There are two main causes of acute hepatitis that are:
Acute non-viral hepatitis: This can be caused by the patient's excessive alcohol use, drug overdose or exposure to toxins leading to swollen liver and inflammation. In addition, it is possible that the patient has an autoimmune disease, which damages liver function. Acute viral hepatitis: Depending on the type of virus, the severity and duration of the disease will vary. Acute viral hepatitis can be caused by hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, hepatitis D virus, and hepatitis E virus.

When suspecting that the patient has acute hepatitis, the doctor may use a number of technical methods such as clinical examination, liver biopsy, liver function test, ... to diagnose the disease. Specifically as follows:
Clinical examination: With this method, the doctor will gently press on the patient's abdomen to see if there is a pain response from the patient. Also check if the liver is enlarged and if the skin and eyes are yellow; Diagnosis of acute hepatitis by liver ultrasound: The hepatitis ultrasound technique is often used by doctors to support the diagnosis of acute hepatitis; Diagnosis of acute hepatitis by serology: For people with acute hepatitis, doctors will use IgM anti-HAV, HBsAg, IgM anti-HBc, anti-HCV and HCV-HCV RNA tests. (HCV-RNA) PCR to screen for hepatitis A, B and C viruses. In case any test is positive, a serological test should be performed to differentiate; Diagnosis of acute hepatitis by biopsy: A biopsy is an invasive procedure in which the doctor inserts a needle through the skin to take a sample of liver tissue. This test will help your doctor determine if there is any infection, inflammation, or damage; Diagnosis of acute hepatitis by liver function test method: With this method, the doctor will take a blood sample to determine if the liver is still working properly.

There is currently no treatment to relieve acute hepatitis. Therefore, each person needs to actively prevent, the specific prevention methods are as follows:
Should limit drinking alcohol as well as other stimulants because it will increase liver damage; Good personal hygiene will help prevent disease transmission, especially the fecal-oral route in HAV and HEV infections; The blood and other body fluids of patients with acute HBV and HCV infection and the feces of patients with HAV infection are potentially infectious and therefore require protective measures; Blood transfusions should not be given when not necessary; screening test for HBsAg and anti-HCV for blood donors to limit infection after blood transfusion; Prophylactic immunity by active vaccination and passive immunity. Hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines are available, so it's important to proactively get vaccinated to prevent disease. However, there is no vaccine for hepatitis C and hepatitis D yet, but the hepatitis B vaccine can help prevent hepatitis D because the hepatitis D virus relies on the hepatitis B virus to multiply in the body. .

Patients need to go to a reputable hospital for examination and treatment as soon as there are signs of acute hepatitis. Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the leading prestigious hospitals in the country, trusted by a large number of patients for medical examination and treatment. Not only the physical system, modern equipment: 6 ultrasound rooms, 4 DR X-ray rooms (1 full-axis machine, 1 light machine, 1 general machine and 1 mammography machine) , 2 DR portable X-ray machines, 2 multi-row CT scanner rooms (1 128 rows and 1 16 arrays), 2 Magnetic resonance imaging rooms (1 3 Tesla and 1 1.5 Tesla), 1 room for 2 levels of interventional angiography and 1 room to measure bone mineral density.... Vinmec is also the place to gather a team of experienced doctors and nurses who will greatly assist in diagnosis and detection. early signs of abnormality in the patient's body. In particular, with a space designed according to 5-star hotel standards, Vinmec ensures to bring the patient the most comfort, friendliness and peace of mind.