Blood tests will help determine the cause and severity of the hepatitis.
Further information may be obtained from ultrasound and other types of liver scans.
In certain situations a liver biopsy may be recommended. This involves taking a tiny piece of the liver to look at under the microscope. The procedure is generally done under local anaesthetic as a day case in a specialist unit.
Future prospects

Acute infectious viral hepatitis usually improves with no specific treatment.
Acute infection is rarely life threatening. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C can become chronic. Hepatitis A never does.

Acute hepatitis caused by medicines or alcohol usually improves once the liver is no longer exposed to these substances. About one fifth of the patients with chronic hepatitis B and C are at risk of developing cirrhosis or cancer of the liver.
Cirrhosis can also be caused by other types of chronic hepatitis.
No medical treatment is generally required for acute viral hepatitis.
Chronic hepatitis B can be treated with interferon alfa or other antiviral agents.
Chronic hepatitis C can be treated with interferon alfa and ribavirin (tribavirin).
Autoimmune hepatitis can by treated with corticosteroids.