Does viral hepatitis cause diarrhea?

Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
Updated on February 08, 2025
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Patients with viral hepatitis generally do not experience diarrhea. However, if liver function is significantly abnormal, it can lead to disruption of the gastrointestinal microbial flora, which significantly affects digestive function and may cause diarrhea. Viral hepatitis can lead to a series of related symptoms, such as fatigue, aversion to oil, nausea, abdominal distension, and poor appetite. In particularly severe cases, there may also be signs of increased bilirubin and jaundice, which require treatment based on the actual situation.

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Written by Zhang Jian Kang
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The cause of ascites in viral hepatitis

Generally, viral hepatitis does not lead to ascites, but if viral hepatitis progresses to liver failure, severe hepatitis, or cirrhosis, ascites can occur. The main causes of ascites are related to portal hypertension and sodium and water retention. Additionally, patients with chronic liver diseases often have low albumin levels, leading to hypoalbuminemia, which can also contribute to the development of ascites. Therefore, the presence of ascites in viral hepatitis generally indicates a severe condition, and the outcome after treatment might be poor as ascites can recur. If ascites occurs in viral hepatitis, it is crucial to rule out the presence of cirrhosis. For some patients in the decompensated stage of cirrhosis, the initial symptom might be ascites. Therefore, prompt diagnosis and treatment are necessary once ascites appears in viral hepatitis, requiring further attention.

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Infectious Diseases
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What is the prognosis of viral hepatitis?

China is a country with a high incidence of liver disease, especially hepatitis B. Viral hepatitis is categorized into five types: A, B, C, D, and E. Hepatitis A and E are acute diseases, somewhat similar to the common cold in nature. Many patients with hepatitis A or E recover without seeking hospital treatment. However, hepatitis B and C often progress to chronic hepatitis and require timely and standardized intervention and treatment. If treated promptly and properly, patients can recover just like healthy individuals.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
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What are the indicators for viral hepatitis testing?

Viral hepatitis can be confirmed for infection through tests such as hepatitis B "two and a half pairs," hepatitis A antibodies, hepatitis C antibodies, and hepatitis E antibodies. By using the hepatitis B "two and a half pairs" test to look for the hepatitis B surface antigen, if the surface antigen is positive, it indicates infection with the hepatitis B virus. The hepatitis A antibody test primarily assesses for hepatitis A antibody IGM; if this is positive, it suggests an active infection. Through the hepatitis C antibody test, if positive, further testing for hepatitis C virus RNA can be conducted. The hepatitis E antibody test mainly looks at hepatitis E antibody IGM, and the interpretation should be based on the specific circumstances.

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Written by Zhang Jian Kang
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What fruits to eat for viral hepatitis?

Viral hepatitis patients can eat most fruits as there are not many restrictions, and fruits generally are good to eat. Fruits contain a high amount of vitamins, especially vitamin C, which can help repair the liver when consumed by patients. However, for some special patients, especially those with cirrhosis or liver failure who are at risk of bleeding, or even after a significant gastrointestinal bleeding, eating hard, difficult-to-digest fruits is not beneficial for recovery. Consuming hard fruits might exacerbate bleeding, and eating hard-to-digest fruits might lead to symptoms such as upper abdominal discomfort, poor appetite, and nausea or vomiting after eating.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Do you need a blood transfusion for viral hepatitis?

Viral hepatitis, especially in cases where the condition is particularly severe, bilirubin levels are particularly high, and coagulation function is particularly poor, may require plasma treatment. This involves the administration of plasma and nutritional support as symptomatic supportive therapy. Some patients may also need plasma exchange and artificial liver treatment. The treatment of viral hepatitis should aim to remove the cause of the disease as much as possible while also strengthening liver protection and enzyme reduction therapies. Severe cases may require plasma treatment. Treatment decisions should be based on the actual situation and starting treatment early in the onset of the disease can stabilize most conditions.