Hepatitis Unveiled: Types of Hepatitis and their causes
Table of Contents Unveiling Hepatitis: Exploring the Types and Causes of Hepatitis Help Others Discover – Click to Share! Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Table of Contents Bennet, a vibrant young man in his 30s has always been enthusiastic, until he began feeling unusually fatigued. At first, he brushed it off as work stress but when the jaundice set in, Bennet knew something was seriously wrong. A visit to the doctor confirmed that he had hepatitis. This marked the start of Bennet’s journey to understand and manage this disease. According to WHO, 254 million people live with hepatitis B and 50 million with hepatitis C. Half the burden of chronic hepatitis B and C infections is among people 30–54 years old, with 12% among children under 18 years of age. Men account for 58% of all cases. In this blog we will learn about what hepatitis is, its symptoms, types of hepatitis, causes of the different types, how they are transmitted along with the prevention and treatment of hepatitis. What is Hepatitis Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, often caused by a viral infection or injury. It may also result from several other factors such as, toxins, certain medications, and autoimmune diseases. Just about any liver disease will cause hepatitis. Sometimes the injury and the inflammatory response are temporary, but sometimes they are ongoing. The liver, a vital organ, processes nutrients, filters the blood, and fights infections. Inflammation can impair these functions, leading to significant health issues. There are many causes of hepatitis. Viral hepatitis is caused by a virus and can either be acute which can last less than six months or chronic, lasting for more than six months. Viral hepatitis can be spread from person to person. Some types of viral hepatitis can be spread through sexual contact. Symptoms of Hepatitis Hepatitis can be covert and does not always cause noticeable symptoms at first. You might notice: • Upper abdominal pain or soreness, especially on the right side. • Nausea and loss of appetite. • Fatigue • Fever (if you have a viral infection) One might also notice additional symptoms when hepatitis begins to interfere with the liver functioning. This can happen in more severe cases of acute hepatitis and in cases of chronic hepatitis that have been going on for a long time. When the liver is not able to process bile as it usually does, bile does not go where it needs to in your body and instead overflows into the bloodstream. This may cause: • Jaundice (a yellow tint to your skin and eyes). • Dark-coloured urine and light-coloured stools • Pruritus (itchy skin). • Confusion, disorientation or drowsiness (hepatic encephalopathy). How do you get hepatitis, and what are the types of hepatitis? Hepatitis has many causes and types. Most of them cause either acute or chronic hepatitis and depends on how long they are affecting the liver. Healthcare providers classify common causes into types of hepatitis. Viral hepatitis: Viral hepatitis is caused by viruses that infect and damage the liver cells, which leads to inflammation, which is a response from your immune system. Viral infections that cause hepatitis include: Hepatitis A: Hepatitis A is an acute infection causing acute hepatitis. However, it can last several months, and occasionally it is severe enough to cause acute liver failure. It is caused by Hepatitis A virus (HAV). Hepatitis A spreads through contaminated water, food or close contact with infected person. Hepatitis B: Hepatitis B begins as an acute infection, but a small percentage of people develop a chronic infection and chronic hepatitis. It is caused by Hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis B spreads through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids, such as semen or vaginal fluids. Hepatitis C: Hepatitis C begins as an acute infection. But the majority of people who get it develop a chronic infection. It is one of the most common causes of chronic hepatitis. It is caused by Hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis C spreads through contact with infected blood, typically through sharing needles or syringes used for drugs or medications, or from a mother to her baby during birth. Hepatitis D: Hepatitis D (delta virus) infects people who already have hepatitis B. It can also cause chronic hepatitis. If someone gets both, it can be especially stressful for the liver. It is caused by the Hepatitis D virus (HDV) and requires Hepatitis B to occur (co-infection). Hepatitis D spreads through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids. Hepatitis E: Hepatitis E is most prevalent in Asia and uncommon in other parts of the world. It causes acute infection with acute hepatitis. It is caused by Hepatitis E virus (HEV). Hepatitis spreads through contaminated food or water, similar to hepatitis A. Toxic hepatitis Toxins in the bloodstream can cause toxic hepatitis, especially in higher doses and when the liver is already stressed for another reason. The liver filters toxins from the blood every day, but if the toxic load gets too heavy, these toxins can slow it down or even damage its cells. The damage can be acute or chronic, depending on how severe it is and how often or how long you are exposed. Causes include: Industrial chemicals, including vinyl chloride, carbon tetrachloride and certain pesticides and herbicides. Over the counter (OTC) medications, especially high doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Prescription drugs, including statins, certain antibiotics and anti-seizure medications. Some herbs and supplements in large or frequent doses. Alcohol-induced hepatitis Alcohol-induced hepatitis can be chronic or acute. One can get acute hepatitis after a short drinking binge or chronic hepatitis from chronic, heavy alcohol use. Alcohol is always toxic to your liver, but most people can tolerate a certain amount. However, how much is too much varies. While most people develop hepatitis from heavy drinking, some people are more sensitive to alcohol than others. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis Steatohepatitis means hepatitis from fat. It is an advanced stage of fatty liver disease. That means your liver has begun storing extra fat in its tissues. Alcohol use is one common cause of fat storage in your liver. When it is not alcohol-related, it is called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. When this excess fat builds up enough, it can cause metabolic dysfunction-associated
