Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

What is a common symptom of acute drug-induced hepatitis?

1. Joint swelling

2. Dark urine and fatigue

3. Severe abdominal pain

4. Unexplained fever

The correct answer is: Dark urine and fatigue

A common symptom of acute drug-induced hepatitis includes dark urine and fatigue due to the liver’s impaired ability to metabolize and excrete bilirubin. When the liver is inflamed or damaged, as is the case in drug-induced hepatitis, the accumulation of bilirubin can lead to darkening of the urine, as it is excreted through the kidneys instead of being processed adequately by the liver. Fatigue is also prevalent in hepatic conditions because the liver plays a critical role in various metabolic processes, and its dysfunction can lead to systemic effects such as malaise and decreased energy levels. The other symptoms listed, while they may occur in various conditions, are not specific indicators of acute drug-induced hepatitis. Joint swelling might be related to other inflammatory or autoimmune conditions, severe abdominal pain could be linked to a variety of gastrointestinal disorders, and unexplained fever may suggest an infection but is not specific to liver dysfunction or drug-induced injury. Thus, dark urine and fatigue are the hallmark manifestations of this particular condition.