Stay Aware Because “Hepatitis Can’t Wait!”
Hepatitis is a liver infection that causes inflammation. It is caused by a viral infection, but there can be multiple reasons for the same disease, hepatitis can be caused by drugs, narcotics, poisons, or alcohol are examples of these. Autoimmune hepatitis is a condition in which your body produces antibodies that attack your liver tissue. The right upper portion of your belly houses your liver. It has several important activities that affect your body’s metabolism, including:
- Bile production for digestion
- Filtering toxins from the body
- Excretion of bilirubin (a result of broken-down red blood cells), cholesterol, hormones, and medications
- Carbohydrate, fat and protein breakdown
- Controlling enzymes, which are specialised proteins that are required for biological processes
- Synthesising blood proteins, such as albumin, storage of glycogen (a type of sugar), minerals, and vitamins (A, D, E and K) synthesis of clotting factors
Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E are viral illnesses of the liver that are classed as Hepatitis. A distinct virus causes each type of virally transmitted hepatitis.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is an acute, short-term condition caused by Hepatitis A viral infection (HAV). The most common way to contract this type of hepatitis is to eat or drink food or water contaminated with hepatitis A-infected faeces.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B gets spread through contact with infectious body fluids containing the Hepatitis B virus. These include blood, vaginal secretions, or sperm .It also spreads through injecting drugs, having sex with an infected partner, or sharing razors with an infected person.
Hepatitis C
This is caused by Hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis C gets spread by direct contact with contaminated bodily fluids, most commonly through sharing of needles and sexual interaction.
Hepatitis D
Hepatitis D, often known as delta hepatitis, is a devastating liver illness caused by the Hepatitis D virus (HDV). HDV gets spread by coming into contact with infected blood. It is an uncommon hepatitis that only occurs when hepatitis B is present. The hepatitis D virus cannot proliferate unless hepatitis B is present.
Hepatitis E
Hepatitis E is mostly present in places with poor sanitation, and it’s usually contracted by ingesting contaminated food or water
Symptoms of Hepatitis:
You may not have symptoms at first if you have chronic infectious forms of hepatitis, such as hepatitis B and C. Symptoms may not sometimes appear until the infection has a severe effect on liver function.
Acute hepatitis symptoms and signs arise quickly. They are:
- Flu-like symptoms weakness
- Abdominal discomfort, dark urine, pale stool
- Unexplained weight loss because of loss of appetite
- Jaundice-like symptoms include yellow skin and eyes
Because chronic hepatitis progresses slowly, many signs and symptoms may go unnoticed and may take some time to develop.
Prevention:
- Maintain adequate hygiene
- Don’t share/reuse injection needles
- Don’t share razors and other personal hygiene equipment
- Never use another person’s toothbrush
- Don’t touch spilled blood
- Use precautions during sexual intercourse and intimate sexual contact
- Get vaccinated
Diagnosis:
There are different ways to diagnose different hepatitis.
- Liver Function Tests
- Detailed Blood Tests
- Liver Biopsy
- Abdominal Ultrasound to check-
- Fluid in abdomen
- Liver damage and enlargement
- Liver tumours
Treatment
- Hepatitis A is a short-term infection. If your symptoms are causing you a lot of pain, bed rest is prescribed. Follow your doctor’s hydration and nutrition instructions if you have vomiting or diarrhoea.
- Acute hepatitis B inmost of the individuals relieves with symptomatic treatment, Antiviral medicines are used to treat chronic hepatitis B.
- Hepatitis C is treated with antiviral medicines in both acute and chronic forms. People who develop cirrhosis (liver scarring) or liver illness because of chronic hepatitis C may be eligible for a liver transplant.
- At present, there are no antiviral drugs available to treat hepatitis D. Hepatitis D can be avoided by having the hepatitis B vaccine.
- Hepatitis E is currently treated with no specific medicinal therapy. Because the illness is so common, it usually goes away on its own.
The Department of Gastroenterology at OMNI Hospitals provides comprehensive care for a wide range of digestive problems, including diagnostic and therapeutic therapy. The gastroenterologists are highly trained and dedicated to the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of a wide range of gastrointestinal illnesses such as hepatitis, providing patients with individualised, cost-effective care. If you are looking for the right care for a hepatitis patient, OMNI Hospitals is just the right place for you.
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DM (Gastroenterology)
Consultant Gastroenterologist & Hepatologist
OMNI Hospitals, Kukatpally
To know more or book an appointment, visit https://omnihospitals.in