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HEPATITIS

Men's Health, Women's Health / By

HEPATITIS

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver tissues that causes damage to the liver.

  • The liver is the largest organ inside the body. The liver performs many critical functions that aids metabolism, including detoxification of blood, production of bile that is important for digestion and storage of glycogen.
  • These liver processes can be disrupted by hepatitis creating severe health problem throughout the body.
  • Hepatitis may be acute or chronic depending on its duration, whether it lasts for less than or more than six months.
  • Acute hepatitis may often resolve on its own or progress to chronic
  • With time, the chronic form may advance to liver damage, cirrhosis, liver failure or liver cancer.
  • Most hepatitis is caused by viruses and is classified as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and
  • The three most common are hepatitis viruses A, B, C. An infection with any of these three can be fatal.
  • It was reported that hepatitis A affected about 114 million people, chronic hepatitis B occurred in about 343 million people and chronic hepatitis C about 142 million people worldwide in 2015

CAUSES

The major causes of hepatitis worldwide is viruses (infectious) or due to some other factors (non-infectious)

INFECTIOUS CAUSES

Hepatitis A is caused by an infection with the hepatitis A virus (HAV). The virus is most commonly transmitted when you ingest food or water contaminated with fecal matter. The virus can spread by:

  • Eating raw shellfish from sewage-polluted water
  • Drinking contaminated water
  • Eating food handled by someone with the virus who after using the toilet does not wash hand thoroughly.

Hepatitis B infection is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and is spread through direct contact with infectious body fluids such as blood, semen and vaginal secretion that contains HBV. The virus can spread by:

  • Sexual contact- having unprotected sex with someone infected.
  • Sharing of needles
  • Mother to a child- infected pregnant women can spread the virus to their babies during childbirth.
  • Tattooing, body piercing and sharing of razor that is contaminated with infected blood

Hepatitis C infection is caused by the hepatitis virus (HCV) and spreads through contact with contaminated blood.  The virus is usually spread by:

  • Needle sharing especially among drug users
  • Blood transfusion
  • Sexual contact

Hepatitis D infection is caused by hepatitis D virus and is contracted through contact with infected blood. The hepatitis D only occurs in conjunction with hepatitis B as the virus only multiplies with the presence of hepatitis B.

Hepatitis E is a waterborne disease caused by the hepatitis E virus. It spread mainly through contaminated food and water and is mainly found in areas with poor sanitation.

Non-infectious causes are:
  • Excessive alcohol consumption. This type is known as alcoholic hepatitis
  • Autoimmune diseases.
  • Certain medications
  • Toxins

SYMPTOMS

Acute hepatitis may be accompanied by:

  • Loss of appetite
  • Abdominal pain
  • Pale stool
  • Dark urine
  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Jaundice

Chronic hepatitis develops slowly so signs and symptoms may be hard to notice.

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

DIAGNOSIS

To make a diagnosis, your doctor may first review your medical history to determine if you have any risk factor for infectious or non-infectious hepatitis. If hepatitis is suspected, the type and severity may only be diagnosed through a laboratory test. The following test can be used:

  • Liver function tests to determine how perfectly and efficiently your liver works. This test uses blood samples.
  • Other blood tests may be carried out to detect and check for hepatitis viruses and for antibodies that are found in conditions like autoimmune hepatitis
  • Liver biopsy, where a small tissue is taken from your liver for testing. This helps your doctor in detecting how much inflammation or infection has affected your liver.
  • An abdominal ultrasound may also be carried out to take a close look at your liver and organs around it. This test can reveal liver damage or enlargement, tumor, and fluid in your abdomen.
TREATMENT

Acute hepatitis A and B, E usually doesn’t need specific treatment as it is short termed typically resolves on its own. The initial treatment involves resting, relieving symptoms of nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting and maintaining an adequate intake of fluids

Chronic hepatitis B may be treated with antiviral medications.

Acute and chronic hepatitis C may be treated with antiviral medications.

In autoimmune hepatitis, treatment may include certain medications to suppress the immune system. Corticosteroids such as prednisone are important as they have been seen to be effective in about 80% of people with the condition.

Practicing safe sex safe can help decrease infection of the hepatitis viruses that are contracted through sexual contact.

To prevent hepatitis, vaccination or immunization is highly essential. Vaccinations are available to prevent hepatitis A, B, and D.

Pregnant women who develop hepatitis E requires attention and care.

Vaccination for hepatitis E is available only in China.