How do you know you have it in its early stages before it gets worse?must you die from it?

depends what is causing the hepatitis. It is a symptom – maybe of a blood/liver disorder, maybe of something more sinister. But it is a serious condition. Yellowing of the eyes and skin is evident to some degree. Pain maybe, from the cancer or growth that is the primary problem. Loss of appetite and nausea from gall bladder/liver/pancreas disfunction and itching from bile salts on the skin can be very nasty, if it is a gall bladder problem.
Blood tests daily will probably be taken, to assess the Urea and Creatinine levels, as well as normal Electrolyte salts and correct imbalaces with iv therapy.

jaundice looking, loosing weight for no reason and feeling nauseated