It can occur at any age. Types of autoimmune hepatitis. The symptoms of autoimmune hepatitis may look like other health problems. Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic disease in which your body’s immune system attacks the liver and causes inflammation and liver damage. The cause of liver cell destruction in this disease is unclear, but may be related to an imbalance in some of … Many people with autoimmune hepatitis have no symptoms, or only vague symptoms, for quite some time in the early stages of the disease. Common Symptoms of Autoimmune Hepatitis. Others develop symptoms quickly over a few days (acute hepatitis – an illness that develops quickly). Doctors have identified two main forms of autoimmune hepatitis. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) for serious symptoms associated with complications, such as confusion, agitation, severe abdominal swelling, severe abdominal pain, sweating, and severe difficulty breathing. About half the people with type 1 autoimmune hepatitis have other autoimmune disorders, such as celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis or ulcerative colitis. All symptoms of autoimmune hepatitis require prompt attention, but some are more urgent than others. What Is Autoimmune Hepatitis? These include autoimmune hepatitis and hepatitis that occurs as a secondary result of medications, drugs, toxins, and alcohol. About 70% of people with autoimmune hepatitis are women, most between 15 and 40. Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis. Autoimmune hepatitis … This means symptoms become less severe and liver damage slows or stops. It is common to have no symptoms at the beginning. Without treatment, autoimmune hepatitis may get worse and lead to complications, such as cirrhosis. Symptoms of Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) can range from none to mild to severe. Autoimmune means that the body attacks itself; in this case, it mistakes healthy tissue and cells for infected tissue and cells and sends out antibodies (which usually rid the body of infections) to attack the healthy liver cells. In its advanced stages, the condition can cause a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes called jaundice. The goal of autoimmune hepatitis treatment is remission. Autoimmune hepatitis is a rare but serious disease of the liver. This causes hepatitis, or liver inflammation (irritation). Your healthcare provider will look at your health history and give you a physical exam. Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a non-contagious, chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune disease in which one’s own immune system attacks healthy, normal liver cells. Some children are able to stop taking medicine after two or three years. Autoimmune hepatitis is not contagious and cannot be prevented. Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic—or long lasting—disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the normal components, or cells, of the liver and causes inflammation and liver damage 1).The immune system normally protects people from infection by identifying and destroying bacteria, viruses, and other potentially harmful foreign substances. Therefore, the diagnosis is often made when you have tests for an unrelated condition. The diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis is typically made based on a person's signs and symptoms, medical history, various blood tests, and a liver biopsy. What is autoimmune hepatitis. This is the most common type of the disease. Blood tests may be able to tell autoimmune hepatitis apart from viral hepatitis, or from other health problems that cause similar symptoms. Type 1 autoimmune hepatitis. How is autoimmune hepatitis diagnosed? 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