• Jaundice
• Fatigue
• Abdominal pain
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Lower grade fever
• Headache

Diagnosis
It is possible in most cases to identify the viral infection by a single serological screening test. In particular clinical situations, the diagnostic workup requires additional serological or molecular analyses. In cases of acute viral hepatitis, aminotransferase levels usually peak before jaundice appears and have a more gradual decrease thereafter, and there is a greater increase in serum bilirubin levels. Jaundice occurs in about 70% of cases of acute hepatitis A infection, 33%–50% of cases of acute hepatitis B infection and 20%–33% of cases of acute hepatitis C infection.

CMAJ • FEB. 1, 2005; 172 (3)