How to Diagnose Toxic Hepatitis
- 1). Meet with your doctor for an interview and full physical. She'll ask about your medical history as well as any medications and supplements you've been taking. If you use a number of medications and supplements, bring a list to your physical. Be prepared to inform your doctor about any regular exposure you may have to toxic chemicals or pesticides.
- 2). Undergo several blood tests to determine your liver function. These tests show if your liver works properly and measures the extent of any damage if any is present. Though they don't diagnose toxic hepatitis directly, they can show if there's reason for concern.
- 3). Get an ultrasound to help determine if you suffer from damage that could be a sign of toxic hepatitis. The doctor or other staff takes a detailed photograph of your liver using sound waves during this noninvasive procedure.
- 4). Use a CT scan to generate cross sections of your liver. Your doctor gets a more detailed look than that of a standard x-ray, so she can better assess whether you may be suffering from toxic hepatitis.
- 5). Allow your physician to biopsy your liver to diagnose toxic hepatitis, if there's any doubt after he performs the other tests. He'll remove some sample tissue from your liver with a needle and later examine it in a laboratory to determine if you have toxic hepatitis.
