What is acute fulminant hepatitis?
Rarely, individuals with acute infections with hepatitis A and hepatitis B develop severe inflammation, and the liver fails (acute fulminant hepatitis). These patients are extremely ill with the symptoms of acute hepatitis already described and the additional problems of confusion or coma (due to the liver’s failure to detoxify chemicals) and bruising or bleeding (due to a lack of blood clotting factors). In fact, up to 80% of people with acute fulminant hepatitis can die within days to weeks; therefore, it is fortunate that acute fulminant hepatitis is rare. For example, less than 0.5% of adults with acute infection with hepatitis B will develop acute fulminant hepatitis.
