Hepatitis

Overview

Hepatitis means an inflammation of the liver. Inflammation causes painful, red swelling and occurs when tissues become injured or infected. The inflammation can cause organs to not function properly.

There are different kinds of hepatitis.

Hepatitis A usually gets better within a few weeks without treatment. Usually, getting lots of rest and avoiding alcohol will be sufficient, but if symptoms persist you should see a doctor.

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are usually not treated unless they become chronic. If chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C causes liver failure, a liver transplant may become necessary.

Applicable Procedures

Liver Biopsy

What are the different types of hepatitis?

Hepatitis A is contagious and is caused by a viral infection. It typically results in a mild illness lasting a few weeks, but some cases may be severe and persist for months. People contract hepatitis A by coming consuming a food or beverage contaminated by an infected person’s fecal matter. Hepatitis B is also a viral infection, and it can be mild or chronic. Chronic cases can lead to liver cancer or liver failure and be life-threatening. The hepatitis B virus is spread through contact with blood, body fluid, or open sores from someone with the virus. Finally, hepatitis C is also caused by a virus, and it can lead to serious liver damage. Most people who contract hepatitis C, which also spreads through blood or body fluids, experience a chronic infection, which leads to complications like liver cancer and cirrhosis if not treated.

How can a person prevent hepatitis?

You can prevent hepatitis A and B through vaccination, but there is no vaccine for Hepatitis C. You can avoid catching this virus by refraining from sharing needles with others or from having unprotected sex. Practicing safe sex, wearing gloves when cleaning up after others, and avoiding sharing chewing gum with others are also protective measures for hepetatis B. Additional preventive measures for hepatitis A include washing your hands and avoiding raw food or tap water if you travel to a place with poor sanitation.

How is hepatitis treated?

There is no medication or formal treatment for hepatitis A, but your doctor may monitor your liver health to ensure that you are healing. While you are sick, it is important to rest and avoid alcohol. For hepatitis B, it is important to get treated as soon as possible after exposure, so a doctor can administer a vaccination and a hepatitis B immune globulin shot to help your body fight the infection. Your infection may go away, but if it becomes chronic, you may have to take medications to treat it. There is no treatment for acute cases of hepatitis C, but if it becomes chronic, there are also medications available to treat it. Medication is usually successful at treating hepatitis C, but if it is not, you may need a liver transplant.

Common Symptoms

“I felt extremely tired, and I had no appetite. I also began experiencing nausea and muscle pain without warning, and several days later, I had itchy skin and dark-colored urine. I had hepatitis A.”
“When I had hepatitis B, I had stomach and joint pain, and I had fatigue that lasted for months. I had no appetite, and my skin started to look yellow.”
“I started to experience dark urine, yellowing of the skin, and clay-colored poop, and I noticed that I felt tired all the time and had pretty severe stomach pain and nausea. My doctor told me I had hepatitis C.”

Find a Location in Your Area

Find a Location

Request an Appointment

What They Are Saying



Excellent

Center For Digestive Health, Rochester Hills4.8

Based on 6266 reviews

See all reviews

review us on

Joseph F.

Other than the prep, it was an easy and non intrusive experience. Very polite and well trained staff.

Randy F.

Very satisfied with the experience, the staff was very friendly and experienced. I will continue to use this facility. Thank you very much. Randy

Dave H.

Dr. Bakken and her team are outstanding.

Adina B.

High class professionals, very organized and pleasant staff; it went as nice and smoothly as possible; I highly recommend Dr Wille

Patricia B.

Taken in on time! Every segment of procedure was met with extremely professional and very caring nurses and doctors! A truly comfortable experience!

Mark O.

Dr Richard T Willie ♥️

Dennis B.

Great staff. Knowledgeable, polite and efficient.

Piedad M.

Very good customer service and I felt very good with my doctor Wille

Deb K.

All of the office staff were very friendly and helpful in answering all my questions. I was only in the waiting room for about 5 minutes and was taken in the back. Dr Wille came in right after Chris his assistant left the room! I have never been to an office that ran so smooth and efficient! I can't say enough about Dr. Wille. He is very kind and personable. Very easy to talk to and he is an even better listener. Too many times I have had doctors try to finish my sentence or cut me off mid sentence. Not the case with Dr Wille. He is a true gem! I will recommend him and this office to everyone!

Susan J.

Everyone one was so kind.. try all made you feel like you were a part of their family.. everything went well and I was fine before I knew it.. thank you to everyone.. Susan 😉

Maine C.

I had my first colonoscopy at the age of 58, after 8 years of putting it off. When I arrived at the office, I was put at ease immediately, and everyone was friendly and professional. I was in and out of the office and done with my procedure in under 2 hours. Dr Nandi has been my husband's doctor for many years, and when I finally decided to have my first colonoscopy, there was no doubt that I would go to him. I highly recommend this office for any gastro procedures and doctor visits.

Tricia K.

Great

Ralph S.

Top notch medical facility. Dr. Donat is fantastic!

Jo Ann P.

Great people! The experience of a colonoscopy can be quite undaunting but the system at Center for Digestive help made me feel very comfortable. The prep is the worst part but the procedure was easy! The staff and Doctors are great people with a light demeanor and are upbeat in all areas! Overall, It is a must procedure for your health and the Center for Digestive Health in my estimation is the best place to go.

Doris F.

Fun, respectful, and knowledgeable.

Don M.

Awesome staff and doctor. Couldn't be more pleased.

mark H.

Best place to go , very nice, very helpful, very knowledgeable, I will go nowhere else, dr Willy is the best

Terrill H.

The staff was extremely professional, informative and they smiled. It helped me with my nervousness. I was able to be comfortable.

Marcia L.

My appointment was for 3:30 . At 3:33 my name was called. Dr. Willie and his staff are the best.

Dorie

I have been there several times and always have been treated with excellence. Very caring Doctor Bakken and all the staff there. From the waiting room desk to the exit door, they were great.

Debbie C.

This is a very well run practice. Staff is kind and thorough!

Love L.

Very nice, professional and proficient work. They are very organized.

Carol P.

The staff and Doctor were extremely kind, friendly and professional. They made a very anxious time very comfortable.

Brian M.

Very professional and knowledgeable. Hardly any wait time before the appointment.

Karen J.

Colonoscopy and EGD everything went on time. The nurses and the Doctor were awesome and it was painless

The Center for Digestive Health4.8

Based on 6271 reviews

See all reviews

review us on

Rachel B.

Staff is very nice and efficient. Dr. Tocco is on time, helpful with my issues and answers my questions. His assistant is very helpful when calling with questions. I was also impressed with how efficient they are on the day of a procedure. Which was great since a colonoscopy was part of the procedures.

Albert P.

Thank you to all staff for making my Health your upmost priority. The Center for Digestive Health provided a top notch service. A special thanks to my favorite and forever GI Doctor Aalia Saeed! Thanks for being so thorough and caring. If it weren't for you my health would be in great danger. My concerns were taken seriously and I am so grateful. Keep up the amazing work!

John P.

The nurses and staff were outstanding. They were friendly and answered all my questions without hesitation. Made me feel welcome and comfortable before my procedure.

Frank B.

Great experience receptionist and nurses, tech.and Dr's were all great. Just need more room in the waiting room

Our Doctors

We’re proud of our team here at Digestive Health Institute. Our health care providers include some of the very best colorectal surgeons, gastroenterologists and physician assistants. To learn more about our qualified team of specialists, please visit our providers page.

Amir Abadir MD, FRCPC

Anezi E. Bakken MD, MS

Sante D. Bologna MD, FACP

M. Emin Donat MD, FRCPC

Partha S. Nandi

Jack Tocco DO

John R. Weber MD

Richard T. Wille MD

Tusar Desai MD

Aalia Saeed, MD

Christina N. Brown, MD

FAQs

What happens during my first visit?

If you are a new patient, you can expect to have a complete physical exam. You will also be asked detailed questions about your current problems and your past medical history, your current medications, allergies, your family history and other pertinent medical information. If you are taking medications, please bring a completed medical history form with you to your appointment. Once the physician has reviewed your medical information and completed the physical examination, a plan of care will be developed. You may need to be seen again in the office, be referred back to your family physician for follow-up care, or require additional testing. If additional tests are needed, we will assist you in scheduling these tests.

What if I need to schedule an endoscopic procedure?

An endoscopic procedure allows the physician to visualize a part of your gastrointestinal tract with a special instrument called an endoscope. If your family physician has ordered testing, you will be contacted by telephone by one of our staff members. If a physician orders testing and you are in the office, the procedure can generally be scheduled during the course of your visit. You will be given a date, time, and location for the test, as well as written instructions telling you how to prepare for the test. If you have any questions about the procedure, please feel free to ask one of our staff members or the physician.

How do I get test results?

We ask that you wait 10 to 14 days before contacting us for results. Often results come from several different sources. This information needs to be compiled and reviewed by your physician before you can be appropriately advised.

What insurances do you accept?

We accept payment from most insurance companies including Medicare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Blue Care Network, Physicians Health Plan, Cofinity, Sparrow Professional Health Network, Medicaid, McLaren, Health Plus, and several others. Accepted insurances are subject to change at any time without notice.

If your insurance requires an authorization from your primary care physician, you may be asked to assist us in obtaining this authorization.

All patients are responsible for all copays and deductibles at the time of service.

If you have any questions regarding your benefits or insurance coverage, please contact our Billing Department at 248-844-9710.

What if I need to contact the doctor?

To contact your doctor during business hours please call our main number 248-844-9710. If you have an urgent need to speak with the doctor after hours, you will be rerouted to our after hours answering service, and your doctor will be paged. In the case of a medical emergency please proceed directly to the nearest hospital emergency room.

3 reasons to see a gastrointestinal specialist when you turn 45

A gastrointestinal specialist is someone who specializes in the gastrointestinal tract. The gastrointestinal tract involves a pathway that starts at the mouth and ends at the anus. The organs within the gastrointestinal tract are those that function mostly for...

The Benefits of Water for Digestion

Digestion is a process that, when running smoothly, can help keep the rest of your body in good condition too. It’s an important component of your overall health. There are several different ways that the digestive system can be well maintained, and this can be helped...

Do I Need an Endoscopy for Acid Reflux?

An endoscopy is a procedure that is typically used to examine an individual’s digestive tract. It is a non-surgical procedure that involves a tube with a video camera attached to it, called an endoscope, that is used to examine the inside of a cavity in the body. An...