Hepatitis treatment depends on the type, severity and evolution of the disease.
There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A and E. It is recommended an easy diet and restricted activity, as well as avoiding alcohol intake and drugs use during the recovery period.
Chronic hepatitis B can be cured (only in ? cases) with pegylated interferon-alpha. Treatment lasts six months. Alternative treatment includes other viral suppressors, such as lamivudine and adefovir. Individuals exposed to hepatitis B infection risk (healthcare workers, sexual partners of infected persons, newborns with infected mother, etc) should be vaccinated.
The most effective treatment for hepatitis C is a combination of pegylated interferon and ribavirin. Unfortunately, this treatment is not effective in all the cases and patients variably tolerate this therapy. It is important to notice that even moderate alcohol intake seriously aggravated existing hepatitis C and accelerated its evolution to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Another option of treatment for patients with severe hepatitis evolution, leading to liver failure is liver transplantation.

Cirrhosis is a severe consequence of chronic hepatitis and is characterized by replacement of normal liver tissue with fibrous tissue. This condition leads to progressive loss of liver function and is considered irreversible.
Cirrhosis can show no sign for a long period of time (years) and the sign can be unspecific: weight loss, fatigability, loss of appetite, etc.
Cirrhosis leads to serious complications, affecting all the systems and organs: portal hypertension, gastrointestinal bleeding, ascites, peritonitis, splenomegaly, hepatic insufficiency, coagulopathy, renal failure, cholestasis, osteoporosis, malnutrition, pancreatic insufficiency, various blood disorders and more.

Portal-systemic encephalopathy, also called hepatic encephalopathy or hepatic coma, is a neuropsychiatric syndrome, characterized by impaired brain function.
The causes of portal-systemic encephalopathy include acute metabolic stress and disorders leading to increased gut protein: toxins, which normally are detoxified by liver, are accumulating in blood stream and affecting brain functioning.
Portal-systemic encephalopathy can be present in acute hepatitis with fulminant evolution. However, most common conditions associated with portal-systemic encephalopathy are chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis.
Neuropsychiatric signs of portal-systemic encephalopathy include sleep disturbance, impaired concentration, anxiety, depression, memory disorders, somnolence, confusion, disorientation and coma.

Portal hypertension is a medical condition characterized by increased pressure in the portal vein. Portal vein is the blood vessel which drains blood from the gastrointestinal tract, spleen and pancreas into liver. Normal pressure in the portal vein is considered between 5 and 10 mm Hg.
Portal hypertension causes are classified into three categories: pre-hepatic, hepatic and post-hepatic causes.
Portal hypertension is frequently present in cirrhosis, which is a severe consequence of chronic hepatitis.
Portal hypertension shows no symptoms, but leads to severe complications, including: acute gastrointestinal variceal bleeding, ascites, splenomegaly and portal-systemic encephalopathy.