HEPATITIS-Explained all types in detail

VIRAL HEPATITIS

Edited by, SOWNDHARYA  

World Hepatitis Day (WHD) is recognized annually on July 28th, the birthday of Dr. Baruch Blumberg (1925-2011). Dr. Blumberg discovered the hepatitis B virus in 1967, and 2 years later he developed the first hepatitis B vaccine. These achievements culminated in Dr. Blumberg winning the Nobel prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1976.

Organizations around the world including the World Health Organization (WHO) and CDC, commemorate WHD to raise awareness about viral hepatitis, which impacts more than 354 million people worldwide. WHD creates an opportunity to educate people about the burden of these infections, the CDC's efforts to combat viral hepatitis around the world, and actions people can take to prevent these infections.

Viral hepatitis is a group of infectious diseases known as Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, and hepatitis E. This affects millions of people worldwide, causing both acute and chronic liver diseases. Viral hepatitis causes more than one million deaths each year. While deaths from tuberculosis and HIV have been declining, deaths from hepatitis are increasing.

HEPATITIS A

Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). The virus is found in the stool and blood of infected people. Hepatitis A is very contagious. It is spread when someone unknowingly ingests the virus, even in microscopic amounts or through close personal contact with an infected person or through eating contaminated food or drink. Symptoms of Hepatitis A can last up to 2 months and include Fatigue, nausea, stomach pain, and Jaundice. Most people with Hepatitis A do not have a long-lasting illness. The best way to prevent hepatitis A is to get vaccinated.

HEPATITIS B

Hepatitis B is a vaccine-preventable liver infection caused by the Hepatitis B virus(HBV). Hepatitis B is spread when blood, semen, or other body fluids from a person infected with the virus is enters the body of another person. This can happen through sexual contact, sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment, or from mother to baby at birth. Not all people newly infected with HBV have symptoms, but for those that do, symptoms can include fatigue, poor appetite, stomach pain, nausea, and Jaundice. For many people, Hepatitis B is a short-term illness. For others, it can become a long-term, chronic infection that can lead to serious, even life-threatening health issues like cirrhosis or liver cancer. The risk of chronic infection is related to age at infection: About 90% of infants with hepatitis B go on to develop chronic infection, whereas only 2-6% of people who get Hepatitis B as adults become chronically infected. The best way to prevent hepatitis B is to get vaccinated.

HEPATITIS C

Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis C is spread through contact with blood from an infected person. Today, most people become infected with the hepatitis C virus by sharing needles or other drug injecting equipment. It can be either acute or chronic depending on the infected individual. Chronic hepatitis C can result in serious, even life-threatening health problems like cirrhosis and liver cancer. People with chronic hepatitis C can often have no symptoms and don't feel sick. When symptoms appear, they often are a sign of advanced liver disease. There is no vaccine for Hepatitis C. The best way to prevent Hepatitis C is by avoiding behaviors that can spread the disease, especially injecting drugs. Getting tested for hepatitis C is important because treatments can cure most people in 8-12 weeks. 

HEPATITIS D

Hepatitis D also known as "Delta Hepatitis", is a liver infection caused by the Hepatitis D virus(HDV). Hepatitis D only occurs in people who are also infected with the Hepatitis B virus. HDV is considered to be a sub-viral infection because it can propagate only in the presence of HBV. Hepatitis D is spread when blood or other body fluids from a person infected with the virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. Hepatitis D can cause severe symptoms and serious illnesses that can lead to life-long liver damage and even death. People can become infected with both hepatitis B and hepatitis D viruses at the same time (known as coinfection) or get hepatitis D after first being infected with the hepatitis B virus (known as superinfection). There is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis D. However prevention of hepatitis B with the hepatitis B vaccine also protects against future hepatitis D infection.

HEPATITIS E

Hepatitis E is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis E virus(HEV). HEV is found in the stool of an infected person. It is spread when someone unknowingly ingests the virus, even in microscopic amounts. In developing countries, people most often get hepatitis E from drinking water contaminated by feces from people who are infected with the virus. In the united states and other developed countries where hepatitis E is not common, people have gotten sick with hepatitis E after eating raw or undercooked pork, venison wild boar meat, or shellfish. In the past, most cases in developed countries involved people who have recently traveled to countries where hepatitis E is common. Symptoms of hepatitis E can include fatigue, poor appetite, stomach pain, nausea, and jaundice. However many people with hepatitis E, especially young children, have no symptoms. Except for the rare occurrence of chronic hepatitis E in people with compromised immune systems, most people recover fully from the disease without any complications. No vaccine for hepatitis E is currently available.

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