Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that both infectious and noninfectious factors can cause. Viruses and parasites are both types of infectious agents that can cause hepatitis. Some drugs and toxic agents are also non-infectious causes. Hepatitis can sometimes be caused by an autoimmune reaction that attacks the liver cells.
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Watch Out for Hepatitis Symptoms
Acute viral hepatitis is caused by damage to the largest internal organ that is liver, so the signs and symptoms are the same no matter which hepatitis virus is to blame. Patients may get sick with something that feels like the flu. Common symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Fever
- Tiredness
- Loss of appetite
- Rash and pain in the joints less often.
The skin and eyes can turn yellow, which is called jaundice. The acute phase of viral hepatitis usually lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Jaundice that may follow can last from one to three weeks.
A complication of acute viral hepatitis is fulminant hepatitis, which is a very severe form of the disease that gets worse quickly and causes liver failure, kidney damage, trouble with blood clotting, and major changes in the way the brain works.
These people quickly go into a coma, and up to 90% of them die. Chronic hepatitis is another problem. This is when liver cells die and the liver gets inflamed for more than six months. Now Let’s talk about the types of hepatitis that exist around us.
Types Of Hepatitis
There are five types of hepatitis viruses, which have the letters A, B, C, D, and E next to them.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is caused when the hepatitis A virus gets into the body. This kind of hepatitis is an acute illness that only lasts a short time.
Hepatovirus B
Hepatitis B is caused by the hepatitis B virus. This is often a long-term, ongoing problem. According to the world health organization, about 296 million people around the world are living with hepatitis B.
Hepatitis C
The hepatitis C virus causes hepatitis C. HCV is one of the most common blood-borne viruses and it usually shows up as a long-term illness.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all adults 18 and older get tested for hepatitis C once and that all pregnant women get tested for hepatitis C every time they are pregnant.
Hepatitis D
This is a rare type of hepatitis that only happens in people who also have hepatitis B. The hepatitis D virus (HDV) inflames the liver like other strains, but you can’t get HDV if you don’t already have hepatitis B.
HDV affects almost 5% of people with long-term hepatitis B around the world.
Hepatitis E
According to the top reviewed gastroenterologist in Lahore, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ayub Naich “Hepatitis E is a disease that is spread through water and is caused by the hepatitis E virus. Hepatitis E is most common in places with bad sanitation, and it is usually caused by drinking water that has been contaminated by feces.”
How You Can Diagnose Hepatitis
Before diagnosing any kind of hepatitis, your doctor will look at your medical history to see if you have any risk factors and then he runs a few tests such as
Tests For The Liver
A blood sample is used in a liver function test to find out how well your liver works.
If you don’t show any signs of liver disease during a physical exam, abnormal results from these tests may be the first sign that something is wrong. If your liver enzyme levels are high, it could mean that your liver is stressed, hurt, or not working right.
Other Tests Of Blood
If your liver function tests show something wrong, your doctor will probably order more blood tests to find out what’s wrong.
These tests can tell if you have infectious hepatitis by looking for hepatitis viruses or the antibodies your body makes to fight against them.
Doctors can also look for signs of autoimmune hepatitis in the blood.
Liver Biopsy
When doctors look for hepatitis, they will also look at your liver to see if it has been damaged.
Known Source. During a liver biopsy, a piece of tissue from your liver is taken for testing.
A doctor or nurse could take this sample through your skin with a needle, so you wouldn’t have to have surgery. During this procedure, they will often use an ultrasound scan to help guide them.
With this test, your doctor can find out how infection or inflammation has hurt your liver.
Ultrasound
An ultrasound of the abdomen uses sound waves to take a picture of the organs in your abdomen. This test lets your doctor see your liver and other organs close up. It can show:
Body Fluid In Your Belly
liver damage or enlargement of liver tumors abnormalities of your gallbladder
Ultrasound pictures can also sometimes show the pancreas. This test can help figure out why your liver isn’t working as it should.
What Are The Treatments For Hepatitis
Treatment options will depend on what kind of hepatitis you have and if the infection is new or has been going on for a long time.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a short-term disease that might not need to be treated. But if the symptoms cause a lot of pain, you may need to stay in bed. Also, if you are throwing up or having diarrhea, your doctor may suggest a diet plan to keep you hydrated and healthy.
Hepatitis B
Acute hepatitis B doesn’t have a set treatment plan.
But if you have chronic hepatitis B, you will need medicines that fight viruses. This kind of treatment can be expensive, especially if you have to keep doing it for a long time.
Chronic hepatitis B needs to be treated with regular medical checks and tests to see if the virus is responding to treatment.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C can be treated with antiviral drugs in both its acute and long-term forms.
People who have chronic hepatitis C usually take a combination of antiviral drugs. They might also need more tests to figure out the best way to treat them.
Hepatitis D
According to World Health Organization, pegylated interferon-alpha is listed as a treatment for hepatitis D. But this medicine can cause very bad side effects. Because of this, it is not recommended for people with liver damage from cirrhosis, psychiatric disorders, or autoimmune diseases.
Hepatitis E
At the moment, there are no specific medical treatments that can be used to treat hepatitis E. Most of the time, the infection goes away on its own because it is usually a short-term one.
Doctors will often tell people with this infection to get enough rest, drink lots of fluids, eat enough nutrients, and stay away from alcohol.
Things You Should Consider
Hepatitis B or C that lasts for a long time can cause more serious health problems. Because the virus affects the liver, people with chronic hepatitis B or C are more likely to cause liver disease, liver cancer from cirrhosis bleeding problems, and kidney failure.
People with long-term B or C hepatitis should not drink alcohol because it can make liver disease and failure worse. Some supplements and medicines can also change how the liver works. If you have hepatitis B or C that has been going on for a long time, contact your doctor before taking any new medicines.
