Hepatitis: Brief Introduction

Keywords

Hepatitis

Introduction

Hepatitis commonly caused by a virus infection, but there are other possible causes of hepatitis. These include autoimmune hepatitis and hepatitis that happens as secondary results of medications, drugs, toxins, and alcohol. Autoimmune hepatitis may be a disease that happens when your body makes antibodies against your liver tissue.

Your liver is found within the right upper area of your abdomen.

• Bile production, which is important to digestion

• Filtering of poisons from your body

• Excretion of bilirubin, cholesterol, hormones, and drugs

• Breakdown of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins

• Synthesis of blood proteins, like albumin

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Trusted Source, approximately 4.4 million Americans are currently living with chronic hepatitis B and C. more people don’t even know that they need hepatitis.

Treatment options vary counting on which sort of hepatitis you've got. You’ll prevent some sorts of hepatitis through immunizations and lifestyle precautions.

Types

Hepatitis A, B, C, D, E.

Hepatitis A is usually an acute, short-term disease, while hepatitis B, C, D are presumably to become ongoing and chronic. Hepatitis E is typically acute but are often particularly dangerous in pregnant women.

Symptoms of Acute Hepatitis Appear Quickly

• Fatigue

• Dark urine

• Pale stool

• Abdominal pain

• Loss of appetite

• Unexplained weight loss

How Hepatitis is Diagnosed

• History and physical exam

• Liver function tests

• Other blood tests

• Ultrasound

• Liver biopsy

Vaccines

The use of vaccines is a crucial key to preventing hepatitis. Vaccinations are available to stop the event of hepatitis A and B. Experts are currently developing vaccines against hepatitis C . A vaccination for hepatitis E exists in China, but it isn’t available within the US.

Treatment

Hepatitis A: hepatitis A usually doesn’t require treatment because it’s a short-term illness. Bed rest could also be recommended if symptoms cause an excellent deal of discomfort.

Hepatitis B: Acute hepatitis B doesn’t require specific treatment. Chronic hepatitis B is treated with antiviral medications.

Hepatitis C: Antiviral medications are wont to treat both acute and chronic sorts of hepatitis C.

Hepatitis D: No antiviral medications exist for the treatment of hepatitis D at this point. consistent with a 2013 study Trusted Source, a drug called alpha interferon are often wont to treat hepatitis D, but it only shows improvement in about 25 to 30 percent of individuals.

Hepatitis E: Currently, no specific medical therapies are available to treat hepatitis E.

Autoimmune hepatitis: Corticosteroids, like prednisone or budesonide, are extremely important within the early treatment of autoimmune hepatitis. They’re effective in about 80 percent of individuals with this condition.

Complications of Hepatitis

• Cirrhosis

• Liver cancer

• Bleeding disorders

• Hepatic encephalopathy

• Death