Sometimes you may not feel it; sometimes your liver silently gets attacked with infections, viruses, and many more, which can affect your liver. Hepatitis is one of the inflammatory conditions that enters your liver silently, inflames it with the hepatitis virus and messes with your overall health. From viral infections to lifestyle habits, hepatitis can quietly evolve into something life-threatening if ignored.

Hepatitis can be spread through close contact with the patients, contaminated foods and water, and also through body fluids. In this blog, let’s decode everything you need to know — from the basics to the deeper facts of hepatitis.

What is Hepatitis?

It is a chronic inflammation of the liver that can happen due to the hepatitis virus. It can be a chronic and acute condition with the effects of its types. Chronic hepatitis leads to serious liver disease, often life-threatening if ignored. 

It can be triggered by a variety of factors that harm your liver function. While viral infections are a common cause, liver inflammation can also result from underlying health conditions or exposure to harmful substances like chemicals, alcohol, or certain medications.

Symptoms of Hepatitis :

This is a very silent and sneaky disease, though it does not have symptoms at the very first stage, but later it creates many health complications, including,

• Fatigue or weakness
• Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
• Abdominal pain, especially in the upper right side
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dark-colored urine and pale stools
• Viral fever and joint pain 

Causes of hepatitis:

There are many causes of hepatitis, and it can be identified by the complications and the types of hepatitis. If you are exposed to the hepatitis virus or any other virus that affects your liver function. 

Toxic hepatitis occurs when the liver is damaged by exposure to certain poisons, chemicals, medications, or dietary supplements

Hepatitis can be of different types due to different hepatitis viruses. 

Other health conditions and injuries also cause hepatitis, and bad health practices like excessive alcohol consumption can affect your liver function.

Types of Hepatitis: 

There are five primary types of viral hepatitis:

• Hepatitis A (HAV): Spread through contaminated food or water; typically acute and self-limiting.
• Hepatitis B (HBV): Spread through bodily fluids; can become chronic and cause long-term liver damage.
• Hepatitis C (HCV): Transmitted through blood contact; often leads to chronic infection.
• Hepatitis D (HDV): Occurs only in people already infected with HBV; worsens existing hepatitis B.
• Hepatitis E (HEV): Typically waterborne; often resolves on its own, but can be severe in pregnant women.

Other types:

• Autoimmune Hepatitis: The immune system mistakenly attacks liver tissue.
• Toxic Hepatitis: Triggered by exposure to alcohol, drugs, or toxins.

How does viral hepatitis spread?

Viral hepatitis can be transmitted in several ways, depending on the type of virus involved. Here’s how it commonly spreads:

• Through bodily fluids: 

Hepatitis B is often passed through saliva, semen, and vaginal secretions. Engaging in unprotected sexual activity with an infected person can lead to transmission. Additionally, chronic hepatitis B can be passed from mother to baby during childbirth.

• Via infected blood: 

Hepatitis B, C, and D can be transmitted when a person comes into contact with infected blood — most commonly through sharing needles or unsafe medical procedures.

• Through contaminated food and water: 

Hepatitis A and E are typically spread by consuming food or drinking water that has been tainted with these viruses — a form of foodborne infection.

Other complications due to hepatitis:

Chronic hepatitis can result in serious complications like liver cirrhosis (permanent scarring), liver failure, and even liver cancer. However, detecting and treating hepatitis early can help reduce the risk of these long-term health issues.

Treatment of hepatitis:

Though early detection can save you from chronic hepatitis, it needs a thorough compulsory treatment process along with numerous pathology tests. 

How to treat hepatitis disease:

To reduce the hepatitis infections or risks, you may be recommended some of the below-mentioned steps and get it cured if it is diagnosed early or at the right time.

Changes in lifestyle or removing all bad habits like alcohol consumption, smoking, and tobacco, and following a healthy and balanced diet, can help improve your liver health as well as reduce the inflammation in the liver, which causes hepatitis. 

Antiviral medications and doses may be recommended by medical professionals depending on the types and stages of hepatitis. Antivirals can prevent the risks or reduce the consequences of hepatitis complications.

Chronic hepatitis B can cause liver transplant in major cases.

Is hepatitis preventable?

Yes, in many cases, hepatitis can be prevented by taking proactive steps, such as:

• Getting vaccinations: Vaccinations are available to protect against hepatitis A and B, offering a strong defence against infection.
• Maintaining proper hygiene: Regular handwashing, especially after using the restroom and before handling food, can reduce the risk of spreading hepatitis viruses.
• Using medications responsibly: Taking medicines only as prescribed and seeking support for substance use issues can help prevent toxic hepatitis caused by drug or alcohol-related liver damage.

Conclusion:

So, if you have hepatitis, your first option will be to consult your doctor, and then you need to maintain proper hygiene while in contact with other people that prevent spreading the hepatitis virus. Medications, along with the right treatments with regular blood tests, can cure this disease if it is not left unchecked. Nirnayan Health Care, which is the best pathology lab in Kolkata provides the best pathology services with all kinds of hepatitis related tests, screening or biopsies with accurate disease detection. So no delay! Take care of yourself and have a healthy future ahead.