An Overview On The Various Types Of Hepatitis Disease

Hepatitis is a disease of the liver characterized by inflammation. This condition is very common with less emphasis on it. It is more common than human immune virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is also deadly.

Causes Of Hepatitis

Hepatitis is caused by living and non living agents. The living agents are hepatitis A, B, C, D and E virus which have been well documented and recognized by the world health organisation (WHO). Hepatitis G is a recent discovery with little known about it. Non living agents include alcohol, medication, drugs, toxins, and autoimmune disease.

All the causes have similar signs and symptoms. The symptoms include jaundice, dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Some do resolve on their own while others may progress to chronic stages. Such scenarios include scarring, cirrhosis or liver cancer. This can eventually cause death.

Liver image

Virus

Viral hepatitis are more common than the other causes. Hepatitis B and C are the most prevalent and chronic types. Hepatitis A and E are transmitted through polluted food and water. Hepatitis B, C and D mode of transmission is through contact with infected fluid. Hepatitis B is transmitted from mother to child, through sex and contact with family members. They all replicate inside the liver cells preventing the liver from carrying out its function of detoxification of the body.

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Viral Hepatitis

Hepatitis A Virus (HAV)

Hepatitis A virus is a very contagious infection. It is transmitted from consumption of contaminated water and food. Other means of transmitting the infection include close contact with infected persons or objects and unprotected sex with an infected person.

Prevention is simple hygiene and practice of safe sex.

Manifestation of signs and symptoms only occur after some weeks from the day of contracting the infection. However, not every person that is infected develop signs and symptoms. Some of the symptoms include fatigue, joint pain, dark urine, jaundice, intense itching, low-grade fever, loss of appetite, clay-coloured bowel movements, abdominal pain or discomfort, sudden nausea and vomiting.

Hepatitis A rarely require treatment as most infections resolve on their own with no permanent liver damage. It does not become chronic. In rare cases, it can cause sudden loss of liver function. The solution is supportive treatment in hospital or liver transplant.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV)

It is a short term illness in which signs and symptoms can show up within six months from the day of infection. It can develop into chronic conditions in which the negative effect is devastating and can be lifelong. The development into chronic stage is age related. Most people who get infection as an adult get clear of the infection before in enters into the chronic stage without treatment. This provide subsequent immunity to HBV. Most people who get the infection as children will end up with the chronic stage.

Symptoms of HBV include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, joint pain and jaundice. Acute symptoms occur between eight weeks to five months after infection. This can last for several weeks up to six months. Chronic stage don't have symptoms or symptoms similar to acute phase when it occurs.

Mode of transmitting the virus is through contact with infected body fluids. It is contracted from sharing a toothbrush, contact with open sores of infected persons but not through food or water.

Prevention is through the practice of safe sex, personal hygiene, use of sterilize tools, etc.

Infection can also be prevented by the use of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) within 24 hours of exposure to the infection. However, this vaccine can be used on newborn child and last until adulthood. Booster doses are rarely needed but does not have any side effects to use booster doses. Mother to child transmission during pregnancy and delivery is possible. This can be prevented with a shot of the vaccine within the first 12 hours after childbirth.

Fortunately, HBV can be managed with drugs. There are several drugs that can be used already. Yet, new ones keep on adding every now and then. However, most of them come with warnings to be used with care because they have side effects that may be undesirable. And the medication is for life because it does not clear it from the system. Good nutrition, high fluid intake and adequate rest are the mainstay of treatment.

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)

This virus has five types. The most common one in the United States of America (USA) is the type one. Severity of infection between all types is the same but treatment response is different for each. Minimal symptoms is exhibited by infected persons. It is transmitted through body fluids like blood and semen.

The infection pass through different stages with different characteristics. The first is the incubation period. This is the time between infection and development or appearance of symptoms. This span a period of between 14-80 days with 45 days as average.

The acute phase is the whole duration of symptoms. The sufferers usually experience clay-colored poops, dark urine, fever, jaundice, fatigue, joint pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and stomach pain. In most cases, it lasts for 6 months. Rarely infected persons leave this stage. Majority of infected persons get cleared if the virus after this stage. Those that could not clear the virus from their system after the acute phase enters the chronic phase. It leads to the development of severe complications like liver cancer or cirrhosis which caused inflammation. The chronic stage can last between 20-30 years. However, this period can be shorter for heavy alcohol drinkers or those with HIV infection. Chronic stage symptoms include gall stones, kidney failure, easy bleeding and bruising which results in bloody poops, intense itching, muscle loss, vomiting blood, weight loss, brain damage and fluid buildup in the abdominal cavity. The last phase is liver cancer.

There are drugs that can be used to treat HCV. However, there is no vaccine. Treatment is considered successful if after three months, the virus is no longer detected in the system.

Hepatitis D, E and G

Hepatitis D Virus (HDV) is the most important in these groups. It is inactive alone but become active in the presence of HBV. This is because it requires a protein that the HBV make to be able to infect liver cells. It is transmitted through body fluid. HBV and HDV infection rapidly causes liver cirrhosis and is very difficult to treat.

Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) is similar to HAV in terms of disease. It is transmitted by drinking infected water and food.

The last of the virus, hepatitis G Virus (HGV) was recently discovered. It behaves like HCV although it is still under investigation. The way it causes disease in humans is still unclear.

Acute Fulminant Hepatitis

Is a severe liver inflammation that leads to liver failure from HAV or HBV. This condition is not common when there is HCV alone but becomes more frequent when it is present with HBV. There are no drugs currently available to treat this condition now. The symptoms are usually acute and in addition comma or confusion and bleeding (bruising) due to lack of clotting factor.

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Non Living Things

Alcohol Hepatitis

Alcohol consumption directly injures the cells of the liver. Overtime, it can cause permanent damage and the other hepatitis like conditions.

Autoimmune

This is a condition whereby the body's immune system mistakes the liver as a harmful object and begins to attack it. It is more common in women than in men. Choice of treatment varies. However, corticosteroids and other drugs that can be used to suppress the immune system with or without corticosteroids is vital to curtail the disease.

Medication

There are some medications that can damage the liver in high doses. A good example is acetaminophen. Some of these medications are also dangerous to use even at appropriate doses if the user is having any form of hepatitis disease.

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