How to Diagnose Hepatitis A

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, most often caused by a viral infection. There are three types of hepatitis, categorized as A, B and C. Hepatitis A is highly infectious and can be transmitted sexually or in poor sanitary conditions, mostly the result of contact with infected fecal matter. There are a few tests that help a doctor diagnose hepatitis A.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Take a complete physical history and examination of the patient. Recent sexual activity or a trip to a foreign country with unsanitary conditions, along with symptoms or signs of hepatitis A, such as jaundice, fever and fatigue, will help diagnose this disease.

2. Test the patient's blood for the presence of IgM anti-HAV (hepatitis A virus) antibodies that should confirm hepatitis A. Verifying these antibodies rules out the other types of hepatitis, B and C.

3. Conduct a thorough examination of the liver if further confirmation is needed, or to determine the extent of damage to the liver. Check levels of liver enzymes, liver proteins and billirubin. Take a liver biopsy, if necessary.

4. Use advanced tests such as ultrasound, CT scan and/or MRI of the liver to further assess the condition of the liver and to confirm the diagnosis of hepatitis A.

Tips & Warnings

• Symptoms of hepatitis A may not manifest until weeks or months after infection.
• Positive results of blood tests, which find the HAV antibodies in the blood, can indicate either a current or a past infection. Further tests are needed to determine if the disease is present.
• Do not attempt to diagnose hepatitis A based on symptoms alone. It is not possible to differentiate between the types of hepatitis based on symptoms only.

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