Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver. Heavy alcohol use, fatty liver (excess fat accumulation in the liver), toxins, drugs, and certain medical conditions like autoimmune diseases can cause hepatitis. However, hepatitis is often caused by a virus. Different viral hepatitis such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, and hepatitis E are seen in practice.
It is caused by Hepatitis A virus (HAV) and is transmitted by consuming food or water contaminated by the feces of a person with Hepatitis A.
Treatment of hepatitis is mainly supportive and correcting underlying cause. Patients with alcoholic hepatitis should stop consuming it. Those who have severe form of hepatitis may require hospital/ICU admission.
Hepatitis A and E infection often present as acute hepatitis (short-duration/recent onset). Treatment is mainly with supportive medications. Some patients can develop fulminant (very severe form) hepatitis and liver failure beyond a tolerable limit. They require intensive care unit (ICU) support. Some may require liver transplantation. Hepatitis A and E are preventable by hygienic eating habits and improved sanitation. Vaccination is available for hepatitis A.
Hepatitis B and C infections often present as a chronic illness (long-lasting). They may be detected incidentally during a routine check-up. These two viruses have the tendency to cause inflammation at the subclinical level for a long duration (chronic hepatitis). After a few decades, the liver becomes hard and shrunken (cirrhosis). One cirrhosis develops, it cannot be reversed and patients may require liver transplantation.
Hepatitis B is treated with anti-viral medications. Vaccination is available for hepatitis B and is administered to all newborns within their first 6 months.
Hepatitis C is treated with anti-viral medications. Vaccinations are unavailable for this disease.
Hepatitis D has no anti-viral medications. Administering hepatitis B vaccination can prevent it, as the hepatitis B virus is needed for hepatitis D to multiply
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