First Point …

Hepatitis E is a “self-limited” disease, which means that the disease does not require any medical treatment and can eventually subside on its own with the help of the immune system of the body. Doctors usually provide some supportive treatment in this condition with the use of certain medicines that can control nausea and prevent dehydration. However, there is nothing needed for hepatitis E specifically.

Second Point…

Hepatitis E is an acute condition. This clarifies that the disease will not be chronic like other types of hepatitis (B and C).hepatitis E also doesn’t lead to any serious diseases like cirrhosis or cancer. But that doesn’t mean that things can be taken for granted, as hepatitis E can lead to a severe complication called fulminant hepatitis failure.

Third Point…

Hepatitis C is more of a gastrointestinal disease. Diseases like these usually involve the intestine and the stomach. This being the condition, hepatitis E is usually accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting. However, alike every other types of hepatitis, the symptoms of hepatitis E are also similar to flu and include fever, nausea, abdominal pain, muscle pain, joint pain and appetite loss. Hepatitis E usually involves jaundice, but it is also possible that the disease would not be accompanied by any symptoms of jaundice.

Fourth Point…

Hepatitis E spreads through the fecal-oral path. When viruses spread through the fecal-oral path, it is usually caused due to infected feces ingestion and mostly through contaminated water. By drinking pure and clean water, chances are  that you would be reducing the risk of developing hepatitis E and hepatitis A. also you must wash your hands thoroughly after eating or after coming back home from outside.

Fifth Point…

Hepatitis E is not a critical problem in America. However, it is endemic and exists in certain places in Northern as well as Northeast Africa, Southern as well as Southeast Asia and in Mexico.

Sixth Point…

Hepatitis E, alike every other type of hepatitis, including A, B, C and D is dangerous for pregnant women. Though there has been very limited research on this issue, but it is assumed that during the third trimester, if the would-be mother gets infected with the hepatitis E virus, the infection can as well spread to the baby from the mother, thus causing potential damage to both.

Hepatitis E should not be treated as a mild condition and precautions must be taken from the very beginning of the disease. Though the disease seems to have mild to moderate effects on humans, but in some cases, conditions might worsen. Proper care must be taken for pregnant women and their babies. Hepatitis is a common condition during pregnancy and therefore expecting mothers must ask the doctor for hepatitis tests from time to time.

Hepatitis D can cause 2 types of infections:

1. Co-infection
2. Super-infection

Co-infection occurs when an individual is effected by both the HBV as well as the HDV viruses, at around the same time.

Super-infection occurs when a person already has the HBV and is further infected with the HDV. This is mostly acute, but in some cases it might be chronic as well.

Co-infections mostly acute and tends to resolve all by itself, while super-infection is likely to get more serious. Due to super infections, the mild form of cirrhosis can even get more severe in nature, thus becoming progressive cirrhosis. Some cases might as well progress to become fulminate hepatitis.

The Symptoms

The symptoms of hepatitis D are quite similar to the symptoms of any other forms of hepatitis disease, but are more severe in nature.  However, the disease is triggered by the hepatitis B virus and the hepatitis D virus would not last longer than the hepatitis B virus.

Diagnosis

Hepatitis D, similar to other viral hepatitis diseases, is diagnosed by a routine blood test. Doctors typically test people for hepatitis D when you have progressive symptoms of hepatitis B. In such cases, the doctor would recommend a blood test to identify the virus that causes acute and/or chronic hepatitis D infection, including the antigens like HDAg and HBAg. Based on the severity of the infection and the pattern of the disease and the result of the blood test for hepatitis B and D virus, the doctor would determine your infection. It would help in identifying whether the infection is acute or chronic or a super-infection.

How Does the Hepatitis D virus spread?

Hepatitis D virus also spreads in the same way as the hepatitis B virus – when a person comes in contact with someone else’s infected blood, it leads to the infection. Hepatitis D is a rare disease in America and other such developed nations. In these nations, the hepatitis D virus is found in people using IV drugs. Also poor hygiene is highly associated with the development of the same.

How is the condition treated?

Interferon therapy is used for treating chronic cases of hepatitis D, either in standard form or pregylated form. However, the antiviral agents that can be used for treating the symptoms of hepatitis B aren’t really effective in treating hepatitis D. In some chronic cases of hepatitis D, liver transplantation becomes essential.

How can the disease be prevented?

Well, there isn’t any vaccine for hepatitis D. But the vaccine given for hepatitis B can take care of hepatitis D virus as well. As hepatitis D is dependent on hepatitis B, preventing one would lead to the prevention of the other.

Most of the people fail to recognize the disease till the time it actually affects the liver and causes extensive damage. This might take several years as well. Some people might also suffer from hepatitis C that is short-lived and tends to improve over time. This form is known as acute hepatitis C. But usually people are infected with the hepatitis C virus that develops a long-term disease and is known as chronic hepatitis C.

Though hepatitis C is a very serious condition, but some people can actually manage to deal with the disease and live a healthy life.

The Causes

Hepatitis C is a viral disease and is caused by the virus hepatitis C. it usually spreads through contact with infected blood.

You are likely to get hepatitis C if:

• The same needles are shared with people having infected blood for injecting illicit drugs. This is one of the most common ways though which the virus spreads in America.
• You’ve been through blood transfusion before 1992, since after that period, all the donated blood in US is thoroughly screened for the virus hepatitis C.
• You’ve been shot by the needle that had infected blood on it. This usually happens in states where they use one single needle for injecting many people at a time.

In some rare cases however, pregnant ladies having hepatitis C can spread the virus to their babies in the womb or at the time of birth.

It has not been proven yet whether or not the hepatitis C virus can spread sexually. If at all there is any risk of sexual transmission, it would be negligible.

Hepatitis C does not spread through casual contact like kissing, hugging, coughing, sneezing or sharing the same drink or food.

The Symptoms

Usually, people do not experience any symptoms after they are just infected with hepatitis C virus. However, if the symptoms at all manifest, it would be range from:

• Fatigue or tiredness
• Abdominal pain
• Joint pain
• Itchy skin
• Dark urine
• Sore muscles
• Yellowish skin color

Most of the case of chronic hepatitis might not have these symptoms at all. This makes things difficult and people often go on without treatment for 15 years and above.

Diagnosis

Hepatitis C is mostly diagnosed accidentally when the blood sample has been sent for some test or before blood donation. It is otherwise very difficult to understand whether a person has hepatitis C or not. People suffering from hepatitis C are also likely to have higher levels of certain liver enzymes in the blood.

Usually, a routine blood test can detect the presence of hepatitis C virus. In rare cases though, liver biopsy and other such tests become essential.

Treatment

Hepatitis C can be treated with antiviral medications. However, these drugs might not suit everyone. Also if the liver has not been damaged, the doctor might not suggest any medications at all.

If medications are recommended, it would be a combined dose of 2 medicines that can combat infection, such as ribavirin and peginterferon.

An individual might have all or some of the symptoms of hepatitis B without even knowing that he/she is having the disease. In some cases, individuals might not experience any symptoms at all. If at all the symptoms manifest, one might experience flu-like symptoms. But till the time the virus is present in the body, it can highly spread across to other people.

There are times when this virus might cause long-term infections, which is known as chronic hepatitis B. Over time, this can as well damage the liver. Infants and children are more prone to this disease in its chronic form.

The Causes

Hepatitis B, as stated before, is caused by a virus. It is likely to spread through blood contact or through contact with any body fluids of the person who is infected. One is likely to get hepatitis B if

• One is involved sexually with an infected person and doesn’t take any protection.
• One shares needles with the infected person.
• One shares the personal items, such as tooth brushes or razors with the infected person.

If a pregnant lady has the hepatitis B virus in her, it would be transferred to the baby at the time of delivery. However, this can be prevented if proper diagnosis is done in the initial stages to avoid the virus from infecting the baby.

The Symptoms

People suffering from hepatitis B often fail to realize the presence of the disease in them. The symptoms might just occur as flu, without giving any scope to the individual to understand why it is happening. However, the symptoms are likely to include:

• Fatigue
• Fever (mild to moderate)
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Pain in the abdominal regions
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Skin rashes
• Joint pain and muscle aches
• Yellowish skin and eyes that seem like jaundice

Diagnosis

Hepatitis B can be easily diagnosed with a simple blood sample test. A blood test is enough to detect the virus. If you have been vaccinated previously, you might not have chronic hepatitis B.

In some rare cases however, if the liver is extensively damaged, a liver biopsy might be recommended.

Treatment

Hepatitis B tends to settle down on its own without any medications. Some healthy life style practices can help you in getting rid of the disease. Eating health, taking rest, drinking water and giving up drugs and alcohol can simply help in giving some relief.

Some drugs and herbal products can aggravate the conditions further to cause liver damage, seek doctor’s advice and give up such medicines.

The damage caused to the liver would determine the steps to be taken for treating the condition and this would be determined by the doctor.

Prevention

Hepatitis B can be prevented by adopting some healthy lifestyle practices, apart from taking vaccine.

• Have safe sex, use a condom.
• Avoid sharing your needles.
• Use gloves before touching blood.

• Prefer not to share yoru person;a items like razors and toothbrushes with ohers.

Let us have a look at the 5 basic types of hepatitis:

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is the most common form of hepatitis that is caused by the foods and water. If the foods or water are infected with the hepatitis virus known as HAV, it can lead to hepatitis A. It can as well be caused due to anal-oral sexual contact. Though the disease cause inflammation and swelling of the liver, but it isn’t chronic in nature and tends to heal over time with proper medications and care. It isn’t a life-long disease unlike some of the forms of hepatitis. It has been observed that almost everyone suffering from hepatitis A has recovered completely after proper treatment.

Hepatitis B

HBV virus is the main cause of Hepatitis B. it can spread when you come in contact with someone’s infected blood or semen or other fluids of the body. It is also a sexually transmitted disease or STD. you are likely to get hepatitis B if—

4     Have unprotected sex with a person carrying the infection.

4     Share the same drug needles.

4     Getting the body pierced or tattooed with the use of unsterile and previously used needles.

4     Using the same needle having infected blood on the same.

4     Sharing the same razor, toothbrush or other such personal items with a person carrying the infection.

4     Passing it on to the child through infected breast milk.

4     Through biting.

Hepatitis B involves the swelling of the liver. It is indeed a very serious infection that can actually cause potential damage to the liver and might as well lead to the development of cancer. Some people even fail to fight against the infection and therefore it becomes chronic and lasts for life. These days, the blood banks also test all the donated blood for the hepatitis B virus to prevent the risk of infected blood transfusion.

Hepatitis C

HCV virus causes hepatitis C. It spreads almost the same way as hepatitis B does. It also passes on to someone through infected blood or semen or other body fluid. Like hepatitis B, hepatitis C also causes severe damage to the liver and can lead to the development of cancer. People having hepatitis C are also likely to develop chronic infection in the long run. It might as well lead to liver scarring, which is otherwise known as cirrhosis.

Hepatitis D

HVD virus leads to the development of hepatitis D. You would only get infected with hepatic D if you already have hepatitis B infections. It spreads through infected blood, needles and also through unprotected sex with a person carrying the virus. The virus also causes liver inflammation.

Hepatitis E

The HEV virus causes hepatitis E. The virus spreads primarily through water. Water contains this virus and as it enters into the body it leads to the development of the disease. This typical hepatitis type doesn’t occur in America. It does result in the swelling of the liver, but does not cause long-term damage. The virus might as well spread through anal-oral contact.

4     Viral hepatitis

4     Non-infectious hepatitis

By hepatitis, we normally understand viral hepatitis. There are about 5 major viruses that infects the liver commonly and have been named with letters of English alphabet from A to E. however, the viral hepatitis can be very confusing, since the different viruses have different ways of attacking the body and has different ways of spreading the virus as well. Some of the viral infections can lead to the development of acute or chronic or even both forms of hepatitis. As these viruses tend to spread from one person to the other, doctors often refer to this condition as infectious hepatitis.

Nevertheless, not all hepatitis forms are infectious. Sometimes certain chemicals can lead to severe liver injury, while in some other people who drink alcohol regularly might also suffer from the same. In such cases, liver inflammation is quite common. Additionally, certain health issues such as genetic problems and metabolic disorders, obesity and immune-related injury can also cause severe liver damage, thus causing inflammation. These hepatitis types are unlikely to spread from one person to another and are therefore referred to as non-infectious hepatitis.

The Symptoms

Hepatitis is associated with varied symptoms, but not every person suffering from hepatitis would experience similar symptoms. In some cases where the liver has been extensively damaged, the symptoms would be severe. Also it is likely to depend on the actual case that leads to the development of the disease and also the duration of the caused inflammation. Also in some cases, the patient might not experience any symptoms at all, and this is a typical condition of asymptomatic.

While hepatitis has been always associated with jaundice, in which a person turns pale and yellow with eyes becoming yellowish and the color of the skin changing abnormally, but it might not be he case with hepatitis all the time. Sometimes in spite of having chronic hepatitis, a person might not turn yellow due to some reasons. Patients suffering from acute viral hepatitis are likely to have symptoms ranging from fever, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, loss of appetite etc. It is only after thorough diagnosis that a person can be told whether he is actually suffering form hepatitis or not.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing hepatitis involves quite a few steps including the routine blood tests. Liver examinations to check, if the liver has enlarged or not are very necessary. Ultra sonography, CT scans and in worst cases a biopsy might also be needed.

Living with the condition

It isn’t easy to live with hepatitis. Treatments become mandatory once the disease has been diagnosed and it can range form medications to lifestyle changes. The disease can be severe at times and making proper changes in your daily habits and taking medicines regularly can help in keeping the disease at a bay.

Hepatitis A is a generic term and it refers to inflammation of liver under any circumstance. In fact, it has been found that there are 5 types of acute viral hepatitis, which are indistinguishable from the other as the symptoms are quite common. However, these diseases aren’t related to one another in any ways except for the fact that all these types of hepatitis cause damage to the liver.

One should not confuse hepatitis A with other forms of viral hepatitis, since every form has a different mode of transmission and other such associated factors. While hepatitis A virus can be transmitted through the fecal or oral route, hepatitis B might be transmitted through drug abide or sexual contact.

Causes

Hepatitis A, earlier known as infectious hepatitis, is one of the most common diseases in children in the developing countries. However, it is also prominently seen in the developed nations these days and is one of the most prevalent causes of hepatitis in America.

The virus of hepatitis A spreads from the feces of an infected person, which has been directly or indirectly contaminating different items of food like raw shellfish, our regular drinking water, utensils and someone’s fingers as well.

The Symptoms

Hepatitis A is characterized by fatigue, vomiting or nausea, fever, appetite loss, rashes, dark urine and jaundice or yellowing of skin. The symptoms can range from mild or moderate to severe pain in the abdomen, malaise and fever in its acute stages.

After being infected, it would take about 2-6 weeks time for a person to recover completely.

Diagnosis

Usually, the diagnosis of hepatitis A involves the medical history of the person and then the liver examinations to detect any swelling or tenderness or enlargement.

If jaundice is also present in the person, chances are that the doctor would ask for some routine blood tests and other such liver panel tests. Additional tests might include the antibody test for hepatitis like RIBA II and ELISA II.

In some are cases, liver biopsy also becomes essential.

There aren’t any specific treatments for hepatitis A. However, there are certain medications that can give some relief. The disease usually subsides spontaneously after 2-6 weeks. Hospitalizations are not required in most of the cases, until of course the symptoms are really severe. Taking rest at home and drinking ample amount of fluids and water can help. The doctor would suggest that you quit smoking and alcohol and other such drugs that can aggravate the condition.

Preventing Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A can be easily prevented by:

• Washing your hands properly after going to the bathroom.
• Eating freshly cooked food.
• Drinking water in abundance.
• Avoiding soft drinks.
• Washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating.
• Carrying yoru own food and water while traveling.

• Taking hepatitis A vaccination.