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.”

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What Our Patients Are Saying

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I’ve been a patient of Dr. Weber for almost a decade. My husband for more than & it was he who recommended Dr. Weber. He’s knowledgeable & well experienced in his field. Plus he’s an all around kind & nice guy. And you’d like how the office & tech staff are trained to run the operation of this practice. Efficient, patient and helpful! I’d feel very comfortable recommending this practice.

Vicki M.

I had a great time. Everyone was very friendly and professional. One nurse said I had nice eyes, which really helped my self esteem. Dr. Willie was fantastic. His concern about having magenta ink for the printer really shows what a caring man he is. The pictures turned out great. I framed them and hung them up on my wall at home. But, seriously the experience was pleasant. Thank you to everyone involved.

Terry M.

Lord knows having a colonoscopy is zero fun. The prep nearly did me in. But after arriving at suite 270 every single person was pleasant and efficient. The attention to cleanliness in the office is very apparent and appreciated. Every employee introduced themselves by name, apologized for an IV that took two tries and made sure I was as comfortable as can be before I was ready to leave. However, I’m going to enjoy every minute of the five years before I need to return!

Marie C.

I have been here several times and have always been treated great. The receptionist are so kind and the nurses are wonderful so is the anesthesia person are so kind and answers any concerns you might have. My Dr Bologna is awesome. This is the place to go if you need endoscopy or colonoscopy. Thank all the staff for being so kind

Debbie A.

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

Ronald Fogel MDCM, MHSA

Freeha Khan MD

Partha S. Nandi

Leonard G. Quallich III MD

Aditi Saxena MD

Jack Tocco DO

John R. Weber MD

Richard T. Wille 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.

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