What is Hepatitis? Understanding its types, causes, symptoms, and treatment options

Dr.Sharad Malhotra, 3 mins read

What is Hepatitis?

Hepatitis is a liver inflammation caused by many factors, including viral infections and heavy consumption of alcohol. Inflammation means swelling that occurs when body tissues get damaged or infected. If this happens to liver tissue, it can damage your liver and hinder its ability to function correctly. Hepatitis in the liver can either be a short-lived infection that can be treated, or it can be long-term a chronic hepatitis infection. Some types of hepatitis are just short-term (acute) infections, while others can cause both acute and chronic infections.

In this article, we'll try and understand the different types of hepatitis, common symptoms, causes, treatment available, and how you can prevent hepatitis.

Types of Hepatitis:

Hepatitis comes in many forms through many causes. Still, there are five widely recognized classifications of hepatitis, namely hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E, each caused by different viral hepatitis infections.

• Hepatitis A: occurs due to an infection with HAV, short for hepatitis A virus. It is short-term and acute.
• Hepatitis B: is caused by HBV (hepatitis B virus) and is usually a persistent chronic condition.
• Hepatitis C: is caused through infection of HCV, or hepatitis C virus; it is caused through infected blood and is invariably a long-term condition.
• Hepatitis D: is caused by HDV, or hepatitis D virus, and is a rare form of hepatitis that can only occur as a co-infection with a hepatitis B infection. An individual cannot contract HDV without having a hepatitis B infection already.
• Hepatitis E: is caused by infected water that has been exposed to HEV, or hepatitis E virus. Hepatitis E primarily affects impoverished and ignored areas that do not have proper sanitation. It typically occurs through ingesting fecal matter that contaminates the water supply. It is acute but can pose a threat to pregnant women.

What are the causes of hepatitis?

Different types of hepatitis occur for various reasons, but it is predominantly caused by viral hepatitis infections and is called viral hepatitis. Hepatitis viruses A, B, C, D, and E are all caused by viral infections.

The second most common cause of hepatitis is heavy consumption of alcohol, which certainly damages the liver and causes inflammation. Alcohol-induced hepatitis is known as Alcoholic Hepatitis.

Sometimes, people are exposed to certain toxins, in the form of poisons, through chemicals (workplace hazard for many people), in some medicines and supplements: and develop Toxic Hepatitis.

Due to some unrecognized causes, the body's immune system begins to attack the liver, known as Autoimmune Hepatitis.

While the exact reason behind this remains unknown, experts opine that genetics and the surrounding environment may be responsible.

Symptoms of Hepatitis:

Many people infected with hepatitis do not feel or recognize associated symptoms, mainly because they can be quite easily confused with other common ailments or because they have no symptoms until the condition advances a bit further.

If symptoms do occur, they will typically include feeling tired or exhausted for no reason, running a fever, feeling nauseous, vomiting, loss of appetite, dark urine, abdominal pain, joint pains, and clay-coloured bowel movements. Jaundice is another common symptom; a yellowness of skin and eyes can recognize it.

For acute infections, symptoms can occur between 2 weeks to 6 months after first getting infected, while chronic infections may not cause any symptoms until years later.

Diagnosis for hepatitis:

Determining the exact cause behind a hepatitis infection is key to getting the right treatment. Doctors at Aakash Healthcare run comprehensive testing series to accurately diagnose your hepatitis type and condition.

Some tests that can be used include blood ad radiological investigations. Complete Medical history review and a physical examination

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