A physician will compile a medical history and perform a physical examination. Though some patients will experience symptoms, many others will not. As a result, blood testing is an important way of diagnosing viral hepatitis, especially for people in high-risk groups. If a person is infected with viral hepatitis, a blood test will reveal the presence of both antigens (in acute infections) and antibodies to the virus.

In most cases, acute forms of viral hepatitis resolve without treatment. However, it may take months for the liver to heal. Chronic hepatitis requires treatment with various forms of medication. People known to have hepatitis C should have their blood monitored for any changes in the amount of antibodies. They will require treatments when the antibody level rises significantly, indicating they have a substantial amount of virus present. These treatments come in injection and pill form and may last several weeks or several months, with the nature of the treatment dependent upon the severity of infection.

Treatment plans for the various forms of viral hepatitis include:

• Hepatitis A. Resolves on its own, usually after a few weeks. There is no medical treatment for hepatitis A.
  
  
• Hepatitis B. Acute hepatitis B usually resolves on its own, although in some cases it can be treated with a drug called lamivudine. Chronic forms of the virus can be treated with drugs such as alpha interferon, entecavir, lamivudine or adefovir dipivoxil. These drugs should not be used by pregnant women.
  
  
• Hepatitis C. Acute hepatitis C usually resolves within two to three months. Chronic hepatitis C is treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin.
  
  
• Hepatitis D. Antiviral drugs such as alpha interferon sometimes are used to treat hepatitis D.
  
  
• Hepatitis E. Usually resolves on its own over several weeks or months.

Patients diagnosed with viral hepatitis should avoid alcohol until they recover from the virus and the liver is healthy. Certain medications such as anticoagulants (drugs that help prevent blood from clotting) may have to be discontinued because liver impairment may prevent proper metabolism of the drugs, allowing them to build up in the body. Patients with hepatitis should not start or discontinue using any medications without first consulting their physician.

There is no cure for viral hepatitis, although medications can reduce copies of the virus to the point that they are undetectable. If the virus remains undetectable for six months after treatment is finished, the patient is considered to have a sustained virologic response and is unlikely to experience further liver problems.