Don’t allow Hepatitis to harm the health of your loved ones: What is Hepatitis, the importance of testing & treatment

Do you know what Hepatitis is? And why Hepatitis is the talk of the town for which World Hepatitis Day is celebrated! It highlights the urge to fight against viral Hepatitis and spread awareness for testing and treatment.

So, What is Hepatitis….

The liver’s inflammation is usually caused by different kinds of infectious viruses. There are five kinds of Hepatitis virus: A, B, C, D, and E. However, the infection gets transmitted through different modes. Common signs are yellow eyes & skin (jaundice), flu-like signs, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, dark urine, and pale stool.

Hepatitis A lives for the short term while B & C results in chronic illness and long-term liver disorders in millions of individuals. These two variants result in fatalities in conditions like liver cancer, cirrhosis, and viral Hepatitis. According to a report by the World Health Organization, around 354 million have either Hepatitis B or C. Also, diagnosis and treatment are far beyond the reach of these people because of a lack of knowledge.

Types of viral hepatitis

1.     Hepatitis A

It is a contagious liver disorder caused by the Hepatitis A virus. It usually spreads by consuming contaminated water & food and through close personal contact either physical or sexual.

Risk groups

·       Travelers to places where Hepatitis A is prevalent

·       Individuals with clotting factor issues

·       HIV-positive people

2.     Hepatitis B

A serious liver disorder caused by the Hepatitis B virus affects people of all age groups. It usually gets spread via household or sexual contact and sharing of needles. Also, a child born to an infected mother may suffer from this disorder. Signs of acute Hepatitis are tiredness, vomiting, and joint pain. People infected with the HBV virus don’t feel sick for many years but have signs of serious health risks like liver cancer, Hepatitis B, and cirrhosis.

3.     Hepatitis C

It gets transmitted by the Hepatitis C virus. Certain people with the infection suffer for a small period of time while others have a long-term infection. Transmission occurs via sharing syringes, needles, sexual contact, and a baby born to an infected mother. Many individuals are not aware that they are suffering as they don’t show any symptoms. Also, there is no specific vaccine for its treatment, it can be managed with the right treatment and testing.

4.     Hepatitis D

It usually occurs in individuals who are infected with the Hepatitis B virus. Dual contamination results in poor health outcomes and severe infection causing cirrhosis. There is no particular vaccine for the same and can be treated with the Hepatitis B vaccine.

5.     Hepatitis E

The symptoms of Hepatitis E are reduced appetite, fever, itching, abdominal pain, joint pain, vomiting, and nausea. They can also show various other signs such as jaundice, pale stool, and dark urine. It is quite rare and people with Hepatitis E contamination get easily recovered without any serious health concerns.

How Hepatitis is diagnosed?

Hepatitis is a silent killer and it becomes quite important to treat it. The treatment is not possible without the right diagnosis. The clinician prescribes to undergo certain Hepatitis test for its detection.

·       Physical examination- The specialist discusses your medical history and performs a physical examination. He will look for yellow discoloration in the skin/eyes or swelling in the liver.

·       Liver tests- Blood tests monitor the functioning of the liver. The tests are the first indicator that exhibits your suffering from liver disease. If LFT is abnormal, the specialist asks you to diagnose the specific cause of Hepatitis infection.

·       Liver biopsy- The sample of tissue is taken from the liver to diagnose the extent of inflammation or infection.

·       Ultrasound- The ultrasound waves analyze the image of various organs in the abdomen. The process enables doctors to have a look at the status of the liver and organs nearby. The procedure monitors liver enlargement/damage/ tumors, fluid in the abdomen, and anomalies in the gall bladder.

How hepatitis can be treated?

Hepatitis treatment depends on the kind of Hepatitis and the extent of the infection: acute or chronic. Hepatitis A can be treated with nutrition and hydration while Hepatitis B requires antiviral medicines with constant monitoring. Hepatitis C can be managed with a combination of antiviral medicines with regular testing. Individuals with a liver disorder or cirrhosis due to Hepatitis C might need a liver transplant.

The vaccines help to protect against Hepatitis viruses and minimize their risks. Moreover, the transmission takes place via food, water, and bodily fluids. Henceforth, it is quite important to reduce the contact with these things and prevent the contraction. The risk can be lessened by not sharing razors, and needles and touching spilled blood. Also, you are advised to use condoms while having sex.

Important Takeaways

So, till now you must have understood how important it is to get tested and treated. If Hepatitis is left undiagnosed and untreated, leads to serious complications that can be even fatal. This article aims to spread awareness about viral Hepatitis symptoms and to take precautionary measures to prevent serious health concerns.