Hepatitis
Hepatitis is considered the inflammation of the liver that occurs due to infection. It is one of the major diseases that has affected a large portion of the population in the USA. Well, there are a number of reasons behind this, such as viruses (types A, B, C, D, E), medications, alcohol, fatty liver disease, or autoimmune conditions. These are some of the common reasons that affect the liver on a very serious note.
This condition can be acute or can turn into chronic if not treated properly or ignored for a long duration. Although the patient can be saved from acute hepatitis with proper treatment and care but complications arise in chronic conditions and lead to liver cirrhosis, failure, or cancer too. Today, in this section, we will discuss hepatitis, its symptoms, causes and prevention, and other things in detail. So keep reading to know more.
Types Of Hepatitis
As you have learned about what hepatitis is, now it is time to understand its various types. There are a total of two types of hepatitis that are further divided into sub types. Let’s explore them one by one.
Viral Hepatitis (A, B, C, D, E)
1. Hepatitis A & E – This kind of hepatitis is spread through contaminated food and water(fecal-oral route); this type of hepatitis generally leads to acute illness.
2. Hepatitis B & C – This type of hepatitis spreads via infected blood, childbirth, or bodily fluids. One of the major threats of this hepatitis is that it can turn into chronic, leading to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
3. Hepatitis D – It spreads from infection with hepatitis B patients. This can lead to severe damage to the liver.
Non-Viral Hepatitis
Alcoholic Hepatitis – It occurs due to excessive intake to alcohol intake that ruins the functions of the liver and damages it on a major level.
Autoimmune Hepatitis – This is another form of hepatitis in which the immune system itself attacks the liver. The individual who suffers from such a condition needs to be taken care of lifelong, as this condition requires proper management.
Toxin or Drug Hepatitis – This type of hepatitis is caused by medicines or excessive exposure to harmful chemicals.
Symptoms Of Hepatitis
As you have learned about the types of hepatitis, which is important to know to detect the danger. Now it is time to understand the symptoms related to it. This will help you figure out the condition on an early basis, which will eventually lead to treatment on time.
Some of the main symptoms of Hepatitis are given as below:
- An individual suffers from nausea, abdominal or joint pain, vomiting, and aches in the muscles.
- Fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, and general malaise.
- The skin and eyes turn yellow, indicating jaundice.
- The color of the urine turns dark, and stools color turns pale/clay.
- The individual suffers from low-grade fever, itching, and swelling in the abdomen or legs
The symptoms of hepatitis A, B, C, and E occur 2 to 6 weeks after infection. The individual with chronic hepatitis remains symptom-free for years, making it hard to figure out the condition.
Cause of Hepatitis
When we think about the causes of hepatitis, then there are various reasons behind it. Here are some of the causes of hepatitis mentioned below. Have a look at them.
- Viral Infections – one of the main reasons that causes hepatitis are the viruses A,B,C,D and E. these viruses are transmitted via contaminated food and water or can also be transmitted by blood or bodily fluids causing infections through virus B,C,D.
- Conditions Related To Metabolism & Genes – there are some of the diseases that individual suffers due to the metabolism or genes such as non alcoholic fatty liver disease, wilson’s disease, hemochromatosis and alpha-1 antitrypsin are the resons that can cause liver inflammation that eventually turns into hepatitis.
- Excessive Consumption of Alcohol – If a person driks too much alcohol then it can cause alcoholic hepatitis which result in cirrhosis and liver failure.
- Disorders Related To Autoimmune – In this scenario the immune system by mistake attacks the liver cells of the individual which causes ongoing inflammation in the body.
- Medicines & Toxins – when a person consume medicines for a long time or overdose such as acetaminophen, statins, antibiotics, industrial chemicals and herbs then it can easily affect the liver (toxic hepatitis)
Treatment Of Hepatitis
When we talk about the treatment of the hepatitis then it various as per the type. we have explained some of the treatments below. have a look at it.
- Hepatitis A and E – There is no particular treatment or antiviral therapy for this kind of hepatitis. the major is always on rest, proper nutrition, hydration till the recovery, generally within 6 months.
- Hepatitis B – When the cases are acute then they are generally treated through monitoring but in comes to chronic conditions then it needs antiviral medicines such as entecavir or tenofovir. at some points the patient is also treated with interferon therapy or immunoglobulin post exposure.
- Hepatitis C – This condition is treated with direct acting antiviral drugs which covers sofosbuvir based combinations or glecaprevir/pibrentasvir. by this the condition can be cured up to 90 percent within 8-12 weeks.
- Hepatitis D – There is no specific cure for it. this condition can be manged with interferon therapy alongside hepatitis b treatment.
- Non viral forms – In such type trigger are removed such as alcohol and drugs along with immune suppressive medication for autoimmune cases and changes in the lifestyle.
- Advanced liver disease – When the condition become severe or turns into an end stage case then liver transplant becomes the only solution.
Sum Up!
Here we have come to an end of discussion based on types of hepatitis, its symptoms , causes and treatment. All the information mentioned in this blog are important to figure out a hazardous and learn to keep safe from it. If you have noticed anyone who is suffering from the same then help him/her to get the treatment on time. This will save the life of that individual and promote a healthy life too. So keep your life safe and avoiding everything that can lead you towards this disease.
