Hepatitis- Types, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

Dr.Sharad Malhotra, 3 mins read

What is Hepatitis?

The liver is the largest and most vital organ of our body. It helps the body digest food, filters the blood, and fight against infections. It is necessary to keep our liver healthy. There are various causes like excess intake of alcohol, some medications, toxins, and certain medical conditions due to which our liver gets inflamed which is known as Hepatitis. There are various types of Hepatitis. Treatment options vary depending on which form of hepatitis you've got. You can prevent few forms of hepatitis through immunizations and lifestyle precautions. Hepatitis is killing more people than any other disease. There is an urgent need to raise awareness about this deadly disease among the masses.

Types, Causes, and symptoms of Hepatitis

There are five types of Hepatitis namely:-

• • Hepatitis A- Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable liver infection as a result of the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable liver infection as a result of the hepatitis A virus (HAV). HAV is located inside the stool and blood of infected individuals. It spreads when someone unknowingly ingests the virus through close contact with an infected person or by eating contaminated food or water. Symptoms of hepatitis A can last as long as two months like fatigue, nausea, stomach ache, and jaundice.
• • Hepatitis B- Hepatitis B is vaccine-preventable liver contamination caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis B spreads when blood, semen, or other body fluids from someone infected with the virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. This can occur through sexual touch; sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-injecting devices, or from mom to toddler at delivery. Not everyone newly infected with HBV has signs and symptoms, however, for those who do, symptoms of Hepatitis B include fatigue, bad taste for food, stomach pain, nausea, and jaundice.
• • Hepatitis C- Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused due to the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis C spreads through contact with blood from an infected man or woman. Today, the majority of people end up infected with the hepatitis C virus by sharing needles or other injections. For few people, hepatitis C is a short-term illness, but for the people who become infected with the hepatitis C virus, it will become a long-term, continual illness. Chronic hepatitis C can bring about critical, even life-threatening health problems like cirrhosis and liver cancer. People with continual hepatitis C can have no signs and symptoms and do not feel sick. When signs appear, they are a signal of advanced liver disease. There isn't any vaccine for hepatitis C. The best manner to prevent hepatitis C is via avoiding behaviors that could spread the disease, especially injecting drugs. Getting examined for hepatitis C is vital because remedies can cure most people with hepatitis C in eight to 12 weeks.
• • Hepatitis D- Hepatitis D, also referred to as “delta hepatitis,” is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis D virus (HDV). Hepatitis D occurs in individuals who are infected with the hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis D spreads when blood or other body fluids from someone infected with the virus enters the body of someone who isn't infected. Hepatitis D may be an acute, short-term infection or long-term, persistent

contamination.

Hepatitis E- Hepatitis E is a liver infection caused due to the hepatitis E virus (HEV). HEV is located in the stool of an infected individual. It spreads while someone unknowingly ingests the virus. In developing countries, human beings most often get hepatitis E from drinking water contaminated through feces from people that are infected with the virus. Symptoms of hepatitis E include fatigue, poor appetite, stomach ache, nausea, and jaundice. However, many humans with hepatitis E, particularly young children, have no symptoms. Except for the uncommon occurrence of continual hepatitis E in people with compromised immune structures, the general public recovers fully from the disorder with no complications.

Diagnosis of Hepatitis

To diagnose hepatitis, your doctor:

• • Will ask you about your history and symptoms
• • Might do ultrasound, CT Scan, or MRI
• • May advice Blood tests including the viral hepatitis test
• • Rarely liver biopsy is required

Treatment:

Treatment for hepatitis depends on which type you have got and whether it's acute or chronic. Acute viral hepatitis most of the time goes away on its very own. To feel better, you could simply want to rest and get enough fluids. But in some cases, it could be severe. You may even need admission to a hospital. There are medicine or drug treatments to deal with the different kinds of hepatitis. Possible other remedies can also include surgery and different medical approaches. People who have alcoholic hepatitis need to stop consuming alcohol. You may need a liver transplant if your chronic hepatitis leads to liver failure or liver cancer

Prevention:

There are different ways to prevent or decrease your chance for hepatitis, depending on the type of hepatitis. For instance, avoiding alcohol can prevent alcoholic hepatitis. There are vaccines to save you from hepatitis A and B. Have healthy food and maintain good body weight.

The department at Aakash Healthcare, Dwarka, Delhi specializes in preventing, diagnosing and treating liver and gastrointestinal tract disorders. We have the team of best gastroenterologists in Delhi. The doc-tors here are highly skilled and experienced in treating the diseases of liver, stomach, gall bladder, pan-creas, esophagus, small and large intestine. Aakash Healthcare offers state of art endoscopy procedures, 24 x7 gastrointestinal bleed management, foreign body removal and management of all gastrointestinal and liver emergencies including OPD, IPD and ICU care.