All about Hepatitis

 

All about Hepatitis

Introduction

In India,40 million people are chronically infected with Hepatitis B, and 6 to 12 million people are infected with Hepatitis C.

Why are Hepatitis disease cases rising?

  • Lack of awareness.
  • Failure to address the key population.

The key population includes

  1. Homosexual
  2. Lack of education: Barriers to safe sex
  3. Poverty and unemployment lead to reduced access to prevention and treatment
  4. Drug injectors
  5. Stigma (anal intercourse, untreated infection, multiple sexual partners, non-sterile needle, needle sharing)
  • Poor service quality.
  • Structural barriers.

What is Hepatitis disease?

Hepatitis causes damage to the liver and impairs its function.

Hepatitis Classification

  • Viral Hepatitis
  • Alcoholic Hepatitis
  • Toxic Hepatitis
  • Autoimmune Hepatitis

An overview of Hepatitis causes

  • Hepatitis virus: Different viruses which cause Hepatitis are A, B, C, D, and E.
  • Alcohol use: One of the important Hepatitis causes is excessive alcohol. Every food we eat passes through the liver, where it gets processed and metabolized, and toxins are filtered When alcohol reaches the liver, it is broken down into toxins that accumulate (due to excessive drinking) and cause injury to the liver.
  • Chemicals: The liver is injured when exposed to chemicals. This exposure may be due to toxic substances or chemicals in the workplace (organic solvents). This is called chemical-induced Hepatitis.
  • Medicine: It is advisable not to take any over-the-counter medications without the doctor’s advice because certain medicines cause injury to the liver and increase the risk of liver damage.
  • Autoimmune: Autoimmune Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver from an unknown cause. The role of genetics, environmental factors, and the immune system are included in the hepatitis causes of this type.

Hepatitis symptoms

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis causes of this type are close contact with an infected person (oral-anal sex) and eating contaminated food and drink.

Have you ever imagined there could be a link between strawberries and Hepatitis diagnosis?

U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency investigated whether the Hepatitis A outbreak occurred after consuming fresh organic strawberries under the brand name Freshkampo.

In this, CDC remarked to the people who have taken organic strawberries of FreshKampo brand between March 5 to April 15, 2022, and then frozen them to eat later.

People were advised not to eat frozen organic strawberries and should throw them away even if they did not know the brand name. Anyone who has eaten these strawberries should consult their healthcare provider within 14 days. If they are not vaccinated for Hepatitis A, they should get the post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) vaccine.

If PEP vaccination is done within 14 days of exposure, it can prevent Hepatitis A illness.

This investigation was over on August 14, 2022. A total of 18 outbreak cases of Hepatitis A were reported.

The doctor advises resting, proper nutrition, and adequate fluids for those who suffer from Hepatitis A.

Hepatitis B

How does hepatitis B spread?

It spreads due to unprotected sex and multiple sexual partners, drug abuse, from mother to child, blood transfusion, sharing needles, toothbrushes, razor, and needle prick injuries.

Hepatitis B complications include hepatitis D, cirrhosis, chronic liver failure, and liver cancer.

Blood tests, imaging tests, and elastography diagnose hepatitis B.

The treatment plan includes the following:

  • Immunomodulator drugs.
  • Antiviral drugs
  • Lifestyle changes include limiting alcohol, sugar, and fat.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is diagnosed by patient history, blood test, and physical exam.

Treatment includes antiviral medications.

Hepatitis C progresses to cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer if not treated promptly. So, it is essential to get treated on time to prevent complications.

Hepatitis B and C have common causes.

Hepatitis D

Coinfection means a person becomes infected with hepatitis B and hepatitis D simultaneously. When the person gets hepatitis D first after being infected with hepatitis B, then it is known as superinfection.

The investigations include anti-hepatitis D antibody, liver biopsy, and liver enzymes.

Possible complications include chronic active Hepatitis and acute liver failure.

Hepatitis E

Many people recover completely.

There is no specific treatment for hepatitis E, and it resolves on its own without treatment.

The specific instructions include the following:

  • Rest
  • Nutrition
  • Fluids
  • No alcohol
  • Avoid medications that cause harm to the liver.

American liver foundation: A hope of lightness in the dark

The American Liver Foundation’s mission is to help people with liver diseases. It is an organization where patients with liver diseases, their family members and friends, caregivers, medical experts, and researchers gather and increase engagement to spread knowledge about liver diseases.

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