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Viral Hepatitis
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Viral hepatitis is an inflammation and infection of the liver caused by one of several viruses. There are actually seven viruses known to cause hepatitis, some of which are labeled A through E. Only hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C are very common, however. Viruses can infect the liver in more than one way. The most common ways are through food (hepatitis A) and through the transmission of blood and body fluids (other forms of hepatitis). Hepatitis can be short-lasting and self limited. It can also be chronic and last a lifetime.
Hepatitis A is the most common form of the known types of viral hepatitis. It leads to inflammation of the liver and jaundice but is rarely a serious condition. The virus is found in the feces of humans; when not washing the hands and preparing food, the individual passes the virus on to other people when they eat the tainted food. Only a small amount of the virus is needed to cause an infection to the liver from hepatitis A. This is why careful personal hygiene is necessary, especially when preparing food.
Hepatitis A is a common infection in some parts of the world where there are a lot of poor people and where sanitation is limited. Contaminated food or water is a regular occurrence and can cause hepatitis A infections to occur. Hepatitis A can also be transmitted through sexual contact, especially with anal sex. People of all ages can get hepatitis A. It takes about two to six weeks to have an active infection post exposure.
The symptoms of hepatitis A are basically the same symptoms of any type of hepatitis. There is usually a flu-like illness that includes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. There is weight loss and a lack of appetite. Finally, there is jaundice or yellow skin and eyes, associated with itchy skin. Abdominal pain is common, especially in the area of the liver. It takes about two months to recover from the illness but, in some people, it can last longer. You can only get hepatitis A once as you have immunity to the disease. Complications are rare and minor.
Doctors test for hepatitis A by testing for an antibody to the virus. A positive IgM antibody indicates an active infection. Eventually the body begins to make IgG antibodies to the virus and this is indicative of a healed or healing infection. There is no treatment for hepatitis A other than symptomatic treatment of symptoms. Those who have the disease should get a lot of rest and should eat healthy foods. They should stay hydrated and allow the infection to run its course. If you do not have hepatitis A, there is a hepatitis A immunization you can take to prevent getting the infection.
Hepatitis B causes much the same symptoms as hepatitis A but the method of transmission and the course of the illness are different. Hepatitis B affects more than 350 million people throughout the world. It is passed through contact with bodily fluids or blood of an infected person. This includes having sex with someone who has active hepatitis B, by sharing needles with someone who is infected, by using tattooing equipment or body piercing equipment that has not been actively treated, from a maternal fetal route or from a blood transfusion given in a country that doesn't screen for hepatitis B in transfused blood.
Hepatitis B has the same symptoms as other types of hepatitis but can be more severe. Some people with hepatitis B need to be hospitalized so they can recover. Up to 98 percent of people do recover and have no evidence of the virus in their system. Between 2 and 10 percent of people, however, do develop chronic hepatitis B. They carry the virus in their blood and can pass it to other people. These are the people that are more likely to develop cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer from having the disease. Doctors do a hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) test to see if the hepatitis B has become chronic or is an active disease.
Immunizations exist for hepatitis B and are given to most infants in the US. Adults can be immunized against hepatitis B as well. Antiviral medications are given to those who have chronic hepatitis B in order to prevent further damage to the liver. Treatment persists for about 6 months to treat chronic active disease.
Hepatitis C is much like hepatitis B and is transmitted the same way. The signs and symptoms are about the same and it takes about 15 to 150 days to get the disease after exposure. While infected, you can pass along the disease to other people through blood or body fluid. About twenty percent of those who get hepatitis C clear the virus out of their body but may or may not be immune to the virus in the future. The rest develop chronic hepatitis C that can result in later liver cirrhosis or liver cancer.