"Hepatitis" essentially means inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis A, B, C and E are caused by viral infections. In toxic hepatitis, the inflammation is caused by medicines, herbal or diet supplements, or harmful chemicals.
Hepatitis A and E spreads via contaminated water or food through feco-oral route. When people have hepatitis A or E, the virus leaves their body in their bowel movements. If infected people do not wash their hands after they use the bathroom, they can have the virus on their hands. Then they can spread the virus to anything they touch, including food, water, and other people.
At first, symptoms usually include:
●Fever or fatigue
●Nausea or vomiting
●Loss of appetite
●Pain under the ribs on the right side of the belly
Later on, symptoms usually include:
●Dark-colored urine
●Light-colored stools
●Jaundice, which is when the skin or white part of the eyes turn yellow
●Itchy skin
Rarely, hepatitis A can cause liver damage that can lead to death. But hepatitis E can cause fulminant liver failure in pregnancy which can be life-threatening.
Most of the time, the infection will get better on its own. Get plenty of rest – Do not return to work or school until your fever is gone, your appetite is back, and your skin and eyes are no longer yellow. Hospitalization is required in cases of persistent vomiting.
It can take a few months to feel better. Most people are completely better within 6 months of getting infected. Hepatitis A or E does not lead to lifelong liver problems, but others can cause chronic liver diseases.
Hepatitis B and C are serious infections that can harm the liver. The virus spreads from person to person when their bodily fluids touch. This can happen in a few ways, like having unprotected sex, blood transfusions or sharing needles.
Most people with hepatitis B or C get better within about 6 months after experiencing the above symptoms. But 1 out of every 20 adults who gets hepatitis B or C ends up having the disease for a long time. This is called "chronic" hepatitis. Chronic hepatitis B and C also increases the risk of getting liver cancer.
Most people with chronic hepatitis have no symptoms. But, over time, the infection can lead to an irreversible liver damage called cirrhosis. Symptoms include:
●Swelling in the abdomen and legs, and fluid build-up in the lungs
●Bruising or bleeding easily
●Trouble breathing
●Confusion, Drowsiness and even Coma
Most people with acute hepatitis B do not need treatment. The body usually gets rid of the infection on its own within about 6 months.
If you have chronic hepatitis, meaning the virus has not gone away after 6 months, your doctor might suggest taking medicine. However, not everyone with chronic hepatitis B needs treatment right away but monitoring is done you over time with Liver Function Test (LFT), Viral markers and Ultrasound. If the tests show that the virus is doing more damage to your liver, or if you start having new symptoms, you might start medicine at that time.
For people who do need treatment, it usually includes a medicine that fights the virus, called an "antiviral." People who take an antiviral usually need treatment for many years, and sometimes for life. In severe cases, a person might need a liver transplant, but this is rare.