Hepatitis

Overview

Hepatitis is an infection that causes the liver to become inflamed. There are five different types of hepatitis viruses that produce similar symptoms: A, B, C, D, and E. Bacteria, parasites, toxins, and alcohol can also cause hepatitis. Some forms of hepatitis are autoimmune and inheritable through disorders like cystic fibrosis.

There are no cures for viral hepatitis, and for many people, the condition is lifelong. In other situations, the disease will resolve itself on its own without treatment. Some hepatitis patients will need a liver transplant if the liver damage is extensive, and other patients may need basic treatment.

Types

There are five types of viral hepatitis:

• Hepatitis A: This is a short-term and highly contagious form of hepatitis that resolves itself without causing significant liver damage. The hepatitis A virus is found in feces and is often spread due to inadequate sanitation. People can even become carriers of the virus if they fail to wash their hands. Some undercooked or raw foods also transmit hepatitis. Symptoms may appear two to seven weeks after exposure. The prognosis is relatively positive since patients will usually recover completely within a month or few weeks. A person cannot catch hepatitis A more than once.
• Hepatitis B: Acute hepatitis B lasts for a short period of time and then subsides. This form of hepatitis spreads through blood and body fluids and is transmittable through sexual intercourse, needles, and even sharing a personal item like a razor or a toothbrush. For the most part, hepatitis can't be spread through casual contact such as kissing, eating and drinking. The condition may be transmittable through this type of contact if both parties have open sores. Chronic hepatitis B can remain in an asymptomatic state in the body over a period of years. The resulting liver damage can be fatal if the disease remains undetected.
• Hepatitis C: This type of hepatitis can be chronic or acute. As an acute condition, hepatitis C will resolve itself after a short time. As a chronic condition, hepatitis C can cause permanent liver damage and possibly death. Like other forms of hepatitis, this condition spreads through direct contact with infected blood. Transfusions, tattoos, and piercings are common modes of spreading the disease.
• Hepatitis D: This condition occurs among patients who already suffer from hepatitis B. It is a separate strain of the virus, but it can only affect people who are already infected with the hepatitis B virus. It is possible to have hepatitis B but not hepatitis D, but it is impossible to have hepatitis D without hepatitis B.
• Hepatitis E: The disease is similar to hepatitis A, but is caused by a different form of virus found in the intestinal tract. It mainly spreads by contaminated drinking water in under-developed countries.

Symptoms

All types of hepatitis create similar symptoms. At first, people will appear to have the flu with body aches, nausea, fever and fatigue. Eventually, additional symptoms including weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, itching, rashes, headaches, exhaustion, and depression might develop. One or multiple symptoms may be present, and some people do not show any signs at all.

Once the liver becomes damaged, a hepatitis patient's skin and eyes will start to appear yellow. In addition, a person's urine will appear very dark. This yellowing and darkening liver indicates a condition caused jaundice, which results from a severely damaged or failing liver.

Causes/Risk Factors

Hepatitis can spread through fecal matter, blood and body fluids. Other means of transmission occur through infected medical equipment that is used to treat dental problems, kidney dialysis, and sexual intercourse. Sharing needles for both legal and illegal drugs can also transmit the virus. Hepatitis is not transmittable through casual contact like hugging or kissing unless this casual contact facilitates the exchange of blood.

Tests/Diagnosis

Hepatitis can be diagnosed using blood tests that determine whether the A, B or C virus is the cause of the illness. The doctor will also perform a liver test to determine whether hepatitis has caused significant damage. In some situations, the damage is so severe that an organ transplant is necessary.

Treatment

Although there is no cure for hepatitis, there are a variety of treatment options available to help alleviate symptoms and reduce damage. Typically, doctors will ask patients to get substantial rest, eat a balanced diet, and maintain a regular fitness routine. When following the doctor's recommendations, many people are able to recover naturally. Chronic hepatitis B is sometimes treated with antiviral medications. For those with liver damage caused by hepatitis C, antiviral medications and chemotherapy are possible treatment options.