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Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. It can have many causes, including viruses, medications, fatty infiltration, and alcohol. Most commonly, however, we think of viruses, called hepatitis A, B, and C. Several other viruses cause inflammation of the liver, including hepatitis D and E, but they are not as common in the United States as in other parts of the world.
What Is Hepatitis?
It is an inflammation of the liver caused by viruses, chemicals, drugs, alcohol, and genetic disorders, as well as an overactive immune system that attacks the liver, called autoimmune hepatitis. This can be acute, which flares up suddenly and then goes away, or chronic, which presents with more subtle symptoms and progresses over time.
What Are The Different Types?
1. Autoimmune Hepatitis
This occurs when your body’s infection-fighting system attacks your liver cells. This causes swelling, inflammation, and liver damage. It is a long-term or chronic inflammatory liver disease. Each person’s symptoms may vary. Some of the most common symptoms may include:
- Extreme tiredness
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes
- Belly pain
- Joint pain or swelling
- Mild flu-like symptoms
- Itching
- Large abdomen because of large liver and spleen
- Spiderlike blood vessels in the skin
Other symptoms may include:
- Dark urine
- Fluid buildup in the belly
- Pale or gray-colored stools
- Loss of appetite
- Confusion
- Rectal bleeding or vomiting blood
The symptoms of it may look like other health problems. Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
2. Hepatitis A
This is usually transmitted through the fecal-oral route, meaning a person somehow ingests contaminated feces from an infected person. Another cause of this is eating shellfish harvested from contaminated water. Developing countries experience epidemics caused by drinking water contaminated with raw sewage.
3. Hepatitis B
There are two types of this infections:
- Acute infection. When a person is first infected with it is called an acute infection. Symptoms range from no symptoms to liver failure.
- Chronic infection. If the virus remains in the blood for more than six months, then it is considered a chronic infection. While most adults do not develop this infection, infants and young children are less able to rid their bodies of the virus and may develop it as a result.
4. Hepatitis C
This may develop without any signs or symptoms, or symptoms may be nonspecific and short-lived. Early in the disease, called the prodromal phase, symptoms may include:
- Rash
- Edema (swelling)
- Fever
- Joint pain or arthritis
5. Hepatitis D
Or also called HDV is an RNA virus that is structurally unrelated to the other types. HDV causes a unique infection that requires the assistance of viral particles from the hepatitis B virus (HBV) to replicate and infect other hepatocytes. HDV infection occurs more commonly among adults than children.
6. Hepatitis E
Also known as enteric hepatitis, is similar to hepatitis A. It is also transmitted through the fecal-oral route. It is generally not fatal, though it is more serious in women during pregnancy and can cause fetal complications.
7. Neonatal Hepatitis
This is inflammation of the liver that occurs only in early infancy, usually between one and two months after birth. About 20% of infants with it are infected by a virus that caused inflammation before birth by their mother or shortly after birth.
What Is The Recommended Treatment For It?
The type you have and whether it is acute or chronic will determine your treatment. It is common for acute viral hepatitis to go away on its own. Get enough fluids and rest to feel better. It may, however, be a more serious issue in some cases. A hospital might be necessary for your treatment.
Different types of it are treated with different medicines. Surgery and other medical procedures may also be possible treatments. Alcoholics need to stop drinking if they have alcoholic hepatitis. If it causes liver failure or liver cancer, you may need a liver transplant.
Recommended medicine that can be used for it:
- Metadoxine – this medication is an antioxidant that works by protecting the liver from harmful chemical substances.
