VIRAL HEPATITIS
“Hepatitis” means inflammation of the liver, caused by heavy alcohol use, toxins, medications, and medical conditions. It is most commonly caused by a virus, with Hepatitis A, B, and C being the most common types.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a communicable disease transmitted through contaminated food or water, usually resolving within 2 months in adults. Symptoms include fatigue, low appetite, stomach pain, nausea, and jaundice.
01. Symptoms
Children less than 6 years of age may not have symptoms and infection go unrecognized.HAV causes sporadic viral hepatitis outbreaks in India, primarily in children, but there is an increasing incidence in adult and adolescent populations, compared to children. Usually, infection occurs secondary to contamination of drinking water.
Most people who get HAV infection feel sick for several weeks, but eventually recover completely and do not have residual damage. Rarely, HAV can cause liver failure and death; commonly in people older than 50 and in people with other underlying liver diseases.
02. Treatment
Hepatitis A, is treated with rest, adequate nutrition, and fluids. Some people will need medical care in a hospital.
03. Prevention
The best way to prevent hepatitis A is through vaccination with the hepatitis A vaccine. Two
doses of hepatitis A vaccine are recommended at 6 months interval.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease. World Health organization estimates that in the year 2015, 257 million people were living with chronic hepatitis B infection.
Hepatitis B is transmitted when blood, semen, or another body fluid from a person infected with the Hepatitis B virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. This can happen through sexual contact; sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment; or from mother to baby at birth.
For some people, hepatitis B is an acute, or short-term, illness but for others, it can become a long-term, chronic infection. Chronic Hepatitis B can lead to serious health issues, like liver failure or liver cancer.Hepatitis B can be prevented with safe, effective vaccines.
01. Symptoms
The symptoms of acute infection caused by hepatitis B virus are similar that of viral hepatitis caused by Hepatitis A virus. Most individuals with chronic hepatitis B do not have any symptoms, do not feel ill, and can remain symptom free for decades. About 1 in 4 people who become chronically infected during childhood and about 15% of those who become chronically infected after childhood can develop
cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) or liver cancer.
02. Treatment
Treatment for acute HBV infection is mainly supportive. Chronic infection is treated with antiviral medications. Persons with chronic HBV infection require regular monitoring to prevent liver damage
and/or liver cancer.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by the Hepatitis C virus. Hepatitis C viral infection results from exposure to small
quantities of blood. The mode of transmission of Hepatitis C is similar to that of Hepatitis B.
Globally, an estimated 71 million people have chronic hepatitis C virus infection. A significant number of those who are chronically infected will develop cirrhosis or liver cancer.
01. Symptoms
Hepatitis C is a serious, long-term, chronic infection that affects 70%-85% of infected individuals. It can lead to severe health problems and even death. Most infected individuals may not be aware of their infection and there is no effective vaccine.
02. Treatment
There are several medications available to treat chronic hepatitis C. Hepatitis C treatments have gotten much better in recent years. Current treatments usually involve just 8-12 weeks of oral therapy (pills) and cure over 90% of people with few side effects.
03. Prevention
Prevention involves avoiding spreading behaviors, especially drug injections.
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