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What
to Expect at the Doctor
Although
every situation is somewhat different, you can probably expect at
least three things to happen when you first visit your doctor to
be evaluated for hepatitis.
- History.
First, your doctor will ask you a series of questions about your
medical history, family history, work history, and lifestyle.
Your answers to these questions will provide clues about your
possible risk factors for hepatitis.
- Physical.
A physical examination of your body will probably include looking
into your eyes, ears, mouth, taking your blood pressure, and checking
your weight. As part of the physical exam, your doctor will also
examine your liver from the outside.
To evaluate the liver, your doctor will lightly tap your abdomen
above the liver (the rib cage on your right side). The sound he
or she hears may indicate whether there is an abnormality in the
size and/or position of the liver. Next, your doctor will press
gently over the area above your liver. If you liver is normal,
it will be of normal size, neither shrunken nor enlarged, nor
tender to the touch.
- Tests.
Often, even in more advanced disease, hepatitis has no symptoms.
Because of this, and because there are chemical and biological
markers to indicate how the liver is functioning, a diagnosis
of hepatitis is made on the basis of several laboratory tests.
Initial testing will involve taking a sample of your blood, which
is likely to happen at your first doctor's visit. Follow-up testing
may be done after these results are received.
To learn more about
testing, see the section, Diagnosing
Hepatitis.
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