What are the types of hepatitis? What is the reason for each type? And what are its symptoms? How is it transmitted? Can it be prevented? Is there a cure for it? Answers and other facts about hepatitis through the following article.
What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis refers to an inflammatory condition of the liver. It's usually caused by a viral infection, but there are other possible causes of hepatitis. These include autoimmune hepatitis and hepatitis that occurs as a byproduct of drugs, toxins, and alcohol.
Liver function
The liver is located in the upper right region of the abdomen. It performs many critical functions that affect metabolism throughout the body, including:
Production of bile, which is essential for digestion
Filter toxins from your body
Excretion of bilirubin (a product of broken down red blood cells)
Breaking down carbohydrates, fats and proteins
Activation of enzymes, which are specialized proteins necessary for bodily functions
Storage of glycogen (a form of sugar), minerals and vitamins (A, D, E, K)
Production of blood proteins, such as albumin
production of clotting factors
5 types of viral hepatitis
Liver viral infections include A, B, C, D, and E.
Hepatitis A is almost always acute and short-lived, while hepatitis B, C and D are more likely to become chronic. Hepatitis E is usually acute but can be especially dangerous in pregnant women.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is caused by infection with the hepatitis A virus.
This type of hepatitis is most commonly transmitted by ingesting food or water contaminated with feces from a person with hepatitis A.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is transmitted through contact with infectious body fluids, such as blood, vaginal secretions, or semen, that contain the hepatitis B virus.
Injecting drug use, having sex with an infected partner, or sharing razors with an infected person increases the risk of hepatitis B infection.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C comes from the hepatitis C virus. Hepatitis C is transmitted through direct contact with infected body fluids, usually through injection drug use and sexual contact. Hepatitis C is the most common bloodborne viral infection.
Hepatitis D
Also known as delta hepatitis, this is a serious liver infection caused by the hepatitis D virus. It is transmitted through direct contact with infected blood. It is a rare form of hepatitis that occurs only in conjunction with hepatitis B infection. The hepatitis D virus cannot multiply without hepatitis B present.
Hepatitis E
Hepatitis E is a waterborne disease caused by the hepatitis E virus. Hepatitis E is mainly spread in areas with poor sanitation and is usually caused by ingestion of fecal matter that contaminates the water supply.
Non-infectious causes of hepatitis
Alcohol and other toxins
Excessive alcohol intake can cause liver damage and inflammation. Sometimes referred to as alcoholic hepatitis, alcohol directly affects the liver cells. Over time, it can cause permanent damage and lead to liver failure and cirrhosis, thickening and scarring of the liver.
Autoimmune system response
In some cases, the immune system may perceive the liver as a harmful body and start attacking it. It causes persistent inflammation that can range from mild to severe, often impairing liver function. It is three times more common in women than in men.
Symptoms
If you have infectious forms of chronic hepatitis, such as hepatitis B and C, you may not have symptoms at first. Symptoms may not occur until the damage affects liver function.
Symptoms of acute hepatitis develop quickly. They include:
fatigue
Flu-like symptoms
dark urine
pale stools
Stomach ache
Anorexia
Unexplained weight loss
Yellow skin and eyes, which may be signs of jaundice
Chronic hepatitis develops slowly, so these signs and symptoms may be too subtle to be noticed.
Diagnosis
History and physical examination
Your medical history will first be taken to determine any risk factors you may have for infectious or non-communicable hepatitis.
During the physical exam, your doctor may gently press on your abdomen to see if there is pain or if your liver is enlarged. If your skin or eyes are yellow, he or she will notice this during the examination.
Liver function tests
Blood samples are used to determine how well the liver is working. Abnormal results from these tests may be the first sign of a problem, especially if there are no signs on a physical exam for liver disease. High levels of liver enzymes may indicate that it is stressed, damaged, or not working properly. .
Other blood tests
If your liver function tests are abnormal, your doctor will likely order other tests to find the source of the problem. These tests can check for viruses that cause hepatitis. They can also be used to check for common antibodies in conditions such as autoimmune hepatitis.
Ultrasound
This examination provides your doctor with information about your liver and nearby organs. It can detect:
Abdominal fluid
Liver damage or enlargement
liver tumors
Gallbladder abnormalities
Sometimes the pancreas appears on ultrasound images as well. This can be a useful test in determining the cause of the abnormal liver function.
Liver biopsy
It is the procedure of taking a sample of liver tissue. This can be done through the skin using a needle and does not require surgery. Usually, ultrasound is used for guidance when taking the biopsy sample.
This examination allows to determine how the infection or inflammation has affected the liver. It can also be used to take samples from any abnormal areas of the liver
Treatment
Hepatitis A
It usually does not require treatment because it is a short-term disease. Bed rest may be recommended if your symptoms are causing you a great deal of suffering and you have vomiting or diarrhoea, follow your doctor's instructions on dehydration and nutrition.
Hepatitis A vaccine is available for children at 13 months of age and soon at 2 years of age.
Hepatitis B
Acute hepatitis B does not require specific treatment.
Chronic hepatitis B is treated with antiviral medications. Treatment can last for months or years. Treatment also requires regular medical evaluations to determine if the virus is responding to treatment.
Hepatitis B can be prevented with vaccination.
Hepatitis C
Antiviral drugs are used to treat both acute and chronic forms of hepatitis C.
People who develop cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) or liver disease as a result of chronic hepatitis C may be candidates for a liver transplant.
Currently, there is no vaccination against hepatitis C.
Hepatitis D
There are no antiviral drugs to treat hepatitis D. According to a 2013 study, a drug called interferon alpha can be used to treat hepatitis D, but it shows improvement in about 25 to 30 percent of people.
Hepatitis D can be prevented by getting the hepatitis B vaccination
Hepatitis E
Currently, there are no specific medical treatments available for hepatitis E. Because the infection is often severe, it usually goes away on its own.
People with this type of infection are advised to get enough rest, drink plenty of fluids, and get enough nutrients.
Autoimmune hepatitis
Steroids such as prednisone are very important in the early treatment of autoimmune hepatitis. It is effective in about 80 percent of people with this condition.
Medicines that suppress the immune system such as . are often included
Azothioprine
mycophenolate
tacrolimus
cyclosporine
prevention
Cleanliness
To avoid getting hepatitis A and E. Avoid:
Contaminated water
Raw or undercooked oysters
Raw fruits and vegetables
Hepatitis B, C and D can be prevented:
Not sharing razors
Not using someone else's toothbrush
Avoid unsafe sexual practices
Complications of hepatitis
Chronic hepatitis B or C often leads to more serious health problems. Because the virus affects the liver, people with chronic hepatitis B or C are at risk of:
chronic liver disease
cirrhosis
Liver Cancer
When the liver stops working normally, liver failure can occur. These include:
bleeding disorders
Accumulation of fluid in the abdomen
Increased blood pressure in the portal veins entering the liver
Kidney failure
Hepatic encephalopathy, which can include fatigue, memory loss, and impaired mental abilities due to a buildup of toxins
