Hepatitis

Overview

Hepatitis is the inflammation of liver caused by various infections. Viral hepatitis includes five different types, all with similar symptoms that vary from symptomatic to asymptomatic forms. All forms of hepatitis are liver infections that have the potential to cause liver damage if the condition is chronic, but most cases acute and mild that heals on their own.

Types

There are five types of viral hepatitis:

• Hepatitis A: This is a short term and highly contagious form of hepatitis that subsides without causing significant liver damage. The hepatitis A virus is found in stools and is often spread due to inadequate washing of hands, carrying the virus. Some undercooked or raw foods also transmit hepatitis. Symptoms may appear two to seven weeks after exposure. Patients 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 and then subsides. This form of hepatitis spreads through blood and body fluids and can be spread through sex, needles and even sharing a personal item like a razor or a toothbrush. But it can't be spread through casual contact, like kissing, eating and drinking. Chronic hepatitis B can remain in an asymptomatic state in the body causing fatal liver damage over a period of years because often the person has no symptoms.
• Hepatitis C: This can be acute where the disease subsides after a short while or chronic, causing liver damage, even liver failure and death. Hepatitis C spreads through contact with infected blood. Infected needles, infected blood transfusions, tattoos and piercings are some of the common ways of contracting the disease.
• Hepatitis D: This occurs in patients who already suffer from 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

Symptoms of hepatitis are common for all types. Flu-like symptoms are usually the first sign of an infection. Weight loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, itching, rashes, headaches, tiredness and depression are other common signs of hepatitis.

Jaundice causing yellowing of skin and eyes, dark colored urine positively indicates the malfunctioning of liver due to hepatitis.

Causes/Risk Factors

Hepatitis can spread through fecal matter, blood and body fluids. Other means are through infected medical equipments used for treatments such as dental problems, kidney dialysis and sexual intercourse with infected partners and the sharing of infected needles to inject drugs by the addicts. Hepatitis is not believed to be transmitted through casual contact like hugging or kissing.

Tests/Diagnosis

Hepatitis can be diagnosed by a blood test that determines whether the A, B or C virus is the cause of the illness. A liver function test is also accompanied with the blood tests.

Treatment

Treatment for hepatitis A and B includes rest and good health practices to allow the person to recover naturally. Chronic hepatitis B is sometimes treated with antiviral medications. For those with liver damage caused by hepatitis C, antiviral medications or even chemotherapy are possible treatments.