Some people do not fully recover from acute hepatitis and hepatitis symptoms and complaints continue to be observed in these people. This condition, in which the symptoms of hepatitis last for more than 6 months, is called chronic hepatitis. Chronic hepatitis can last for years.

Chronic Hepatitis

What are the types of chronic hepatitis?

Alcohol-induced chronic hepatitis – persistent liver damage from heavy alcohol use.

Chronic active hepatitis – aggressive inflammation of liver cells that can lead to cirrhosis

Chronic persistent hepatitis – milder chronic inflammation of the liver that does not usually lead to cirrhosis.

What are the causes of chronic hepatitis?

The most common causes of chronic hepatitis can be listed as follows:

Viral hepatitis

Heavy alcohol use

Autoimmune disorder (attack of the body's own tissues)

Reaction to some drugs, especially those for tuberculosis

Metabolic disorders (such as hemochromatosis or Wilson's Disease).

What are the symptoms of chronic hepatitis?

The signs (symptoms) of chronic hepatitis are usually mild. This is because; is that the progression of the disease (progression) is usually slow, although liver damage continues.

Some people with chronic hepatitis may have no symptoms at all. Symptoms of chronic hepatitis in some individuals can be listed as follows:

Feeling sick,

 Loss of appetite,

Fatigue,

Low fever,

Upper abdominal pain,

Jaundice,

Symptoms of chronic liver disease (enlarged spleen, spider-like blood vessels in the skin and fluid accumulation in the abdomen).

How is chronic hepatitis diagnosed?

The diagnosis of chronic hepatitis, together with the patient's medical history and examination; Specific laboratory tests for virus detection may be performed with liver function tests and liver biopsy to determine the severity of inflammation, scarring, cirrhosis and the underlying cause.