Acute hepatitis: Toxic or viral?

Primary hepatitis exists in two forms. These two forms of hepatitis-viral and toxic-present certain differences in their etiology, symptomatology, and laboratory tests. The clinical course and prognosis vary markedly in these two types of hepatitis. Specific therapeutic procedures are usually present for cases with the toxic type but absent for those with the infectious type. Differentiation between the two types of primary hepatitis is more than just of academic interest, and hence, it should be attempted in every case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]