Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. It can be caused by a viral infection, alcohol consumption, several diseases, or even certain medications. Treatment varies based on the type and underlying cause.
What is hepatitis?
It is liver inflammation, the body’s response to infection or injury. Many things can damage the liver and cause hepatitis, including toxic chemicals, heavy substance use, viral infections, and bile flow problems. Almost any liver disease can cause hepatitis. Sometimes, the damage and inflammatory response are temporary, but sometimes, they are ongoing.
Short-term inflammation of the liver is called acute hepatitis, which is an immediate response to an immediate problem. Long-term inflammation of the liver is called chronic hepatitis. It is an ongoing response to an ongoing problem. Inflammation works to protect and repair liver tissue from damage. But if it is too severe or lasts too long, the inflammation can damage the liver and interfere with its important functions.
Symptoms
If you live with a chronic type of hepatitis, such as C and B, you may not show any symptoms until the damage affects your liver function. In contrast, people with acute hepatitis may develop symptoms shortly after contracting the virus.
Common symptoms include:
- Flu-like symptoms
- Fatigue
- Dark urine
- Pale stools
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes
How do you get hepatitis?
There are many causes of hepatitis. Most of them can cause acute or chronic hepatitis, depending on how long they affect the liver.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a viral liver infection spread through contaminated water, food, or contact with an infected person. While most people recover fully, some may require hospitalization. Prevention is key through vaccination, especially for children and high-risk groups like travelers to affected areas. There’s no specific treatment, but supportive care can help manage symptoms.
Hepatitis B
A viral infection attacks the liver and can cause acute and chronic diseases. It’s primarily spread through contact with infected blood or body fluids, such as during childbirth, unprotected sex, or sharing needles. While acute infections often resolve on their own, chronic hepatitis B can lead to severe complications like cirrhosis and liver cancer. Prevention is crucial through vaccination, especially for infants and high-risk groups. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and preventing complications, often involving antiviral medications.
Hepatitis C
It is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can lead to serious long-term health problems, including liver failure and liver cancer. It’s primarily spread through contact with infected blood, often through sharing needles or other equipment used for injecting drugs. Chronic hepatitis C infection is a major global health concern, and treatment is essential to prevent complications. Fortunately, effective antiviral medications are available to cure many people with hepatitis C. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent the virus from causing irreversible damage to the liver.
Hepatitis D
It is also known as delta hepatitis, a severe liver infection caused by the hepatitis D virus (HDV). It can only infect people who already have hepatitis B. HDV can worsen the effects of hepatitis B, leading to more severe liver damage and a higher risk of complications like cirrhosis and liver cancer. Transmission occurs through blood-to-blood contact, often through sharing needles or other equipment used for injecting drugs. Prevention focuses on hepatitis B vaccination, as it’s the only way to protect against HDV. Treatment for HDV involves managing symptoms and underlying liver disease, often with antiviral medications.
Hepatitis E
A viral liver infection primarily spreads through the fecal-oral route, often due to contaminated water. While most people recover fully, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of severe complications. Prevention involves maintaining good hygiene and sanitation, particularly in areas with poor water quality. There’s no specific treatment for acute hepatitis E, but supportive care can help manage symptoms.
Toxic hepatitis
Toxic hepatitis, also known as drug-induced liver injury (DILI) or hepatotoxicity, is a condition in which the liver becomes inflamed due to exposure to harmful substances. These substances can include:
- Medications: Prescription and over-the-counter medications can cause liver damage, especially when taken in high doses or for long periods.
- Alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption is a leading cause of liver damage and can lead to toxic hepatitis.
- Chemicals and toxins: Exposure to certain chemicals and toxins, such as those found in industrial or polluted environments, can damage the liver.
- Herbal supplements and natural remedies: Some herbal supplements and natural remedies can interact with medications or cause liver damage themselves.
Treatment for toxic hepatitis focuses on identifying and removing the harmful substance, managing symptoms, and preventing further liver damage. In severe cases, a liver transplant may be necessary.
Alcohol-induced hepatitis
Toxic hepatitis, also known as drug-induced liver injury (DILI) or hepatotoxicity, is a condition in which the liver becomes inflamed due to exposure to harmful substances. These substances can include:
- Medications: Prescription and over-the-counter medications can cause liver damage, especially when taken in high doses or for long periods.
- Alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption is a leading cause of liver damage and can lead to toxic hepatitis.
- Chemicals and toxins: Exposure to certain chemicals and toxins, such as those found in industrial or polluted environments, can damage the liver.
- Herbal supplements and natural remedies: Some herbal supplements and natural remedies can interact with medications or cause liver damage themselves.
Treatment for toxic hepatitis focuses on identifying and removing the harmful substance, managing symptoms, and preventing further liver damage.
What are the risk factors for hepatitis?
Risk factors for hepatitis include:
- Injecting drug use.
- Heavy use of substances such as alcohol.
- Overuse of prescription or over-the-counter medications.
- Metabolic syndromes include high cholesterol, high blood sugar, and obesity.
- Living or traveling to places with lower levels of public health.
- Workplace exposure to toxic chemicals.
What are the possible complications of hepatitis?
Severe or persistent hepatitis can lead to complications.
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is a scarring of the liver that can develop after years of chronic hepatitis. Chronic inflammation and swelling in the liver tissues cause progressive scarring. As healthy liver tissue is gradually replaced by scar tissue, the liver loses its ability to function. It can eventually lead to chronic liver failure.
Portal hypertension
While cirrhosis is a gradual process and not everyone progresses to liver failure, other complications can develop, including portal hypertension. Scar tissue that compresses the portal veins that run through your liver causes other veins in your stomach and esophagus to become dilated. These enlarged veins (varices) can rupture and cause severe internal bleeding.
Liver cancer
Both chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis are risk factors for developing primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma). Inflammation itself is a risk factor. Viral hepatitis may also play a role in changing the DNA in liver cells, turning healthy cells into cancer cells. More than half of people who develop liver cancer have chronic hepatitis B or C.
Liver failure
Liver failure means that the liver begins to lose its ability to function. Like hepatitis, liver failure can be acute or chronic. Severe toxic overload can cause acute liver failure, while chronic liver failure can develop after years of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. Acute liver failure is sometimes reversible, but chronic liver failure is not. Both can be fatal.
How is hepatitis diagnosed?
It is usually diagnosed through a combination of things.
Medical history and physical exam
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, travel history, and any recent exposure to potential sources of infection (e.g., contaminated food or water, blood transfusions, sexual contact).
A physical exam may reveal signs of liver inflammation, such as jaundice or an enlarged liver.
Blood tests
- Liver function tests: These tests measure levels of liver enzymes, such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), which can be elevated in liver damage.
- Hepatitis virus tests: Specific blood tests can detect the presence of viruses (A, B, C, D, or E) and determine the type of infection.
- Antibody tests: These tests can identify antibodies produced by the body in response to a viral infection, indicating past or present infection.
Imaging tests
- Ultrasound: This test can visualize the liver and detect abnormalities like enlargement or scarring.
- CT scan or MRI: These imaging tests can provide more detailed images of the liver and surrounding organs.
Liver biopsy
In some cases, a liver biopsy may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis and assess the severity of liver damage. This involves removing a small piece of liver tissue for examination under a microscope.
By combining these diagnostic tools, healthcare providers can accurately diagnose hepatitis, determine the underlying cause, and recommend appropriate treatment.
What treatments are available for hepatitis?
Healthcare providers treat hepatitis by removing stressors from the liver as much as they can. Some of these include diet and lifestyle changes. Eliminating toxins and alcohol and reducing fat in the diet can take the stress off any liver. Some people may benefit from medications to help manage blood lipids or blood sugar.
Certain types of chronic hepatitis can be treated directly with medication. Chronic hepatitis C can be treated with antiviral medicines, while chronic hepatitis B requires lifelong treatment. Inherited metabolic diseases and autoimmune hepatitis are also lifelong conditions. Medications and lifestyle changes can reduce stress on the liver and limit the severity of chronic hepatitis.
Prevention
You can help prevent this by:
- Get vaccinated: Vaccines are available to prevent viral hepatitis A and B.
- Practice good hygiene: Washing hands after using the bathroom, handling food safely, and using needles safely can help prevent the spread of infection.
- Drink alcohol: Drink in moderation and use medications as prescribed. If you have a substance, use disorder, treatment can help prevent toxic hepatitis.
- Manage metabolic factors, Such as blood lipids and blood sugar.
The bottom line
Hepatitis is a silent yet severe liver disease caused by various viruses and other factors. Early detection and treatment are crucial to prevent severe complications like liver failure and cancer. Vaccination, safe practices, and a healthy lifestyle are key to prevention. If you’re concerned about hepatitis, consult your doctor for testing and guidance. Remember, a healthy liver is a vital part of overall well-being.
Additional questions
- Which type of hepatitis is transmitted through sexual intercourse?
Hepatitis B and C are the types that can be transmitted through sexual intercourse.
- Can hepatitis be passed from mother to baby?
Hepatitis B can quickly be passed from a pregnant woman with hepatitis B to her baby at birth. This can happen during vaginal delivery or a cesarean section.
- What is the leading cause of autoimmune hepatitis?
Studies show that certain genes make some people more susceptible to autoimmune diseases. Environmental factors in people with these genes may trigger an autoimmune reaction that causes their immune system to attack the liver.
- What are the common diseases of the liver?
- Bile Duct Diseases
- Cirrhosis
- Fatty Liver Disease
- Hepatitis
- Jaundice
- What is the ALT level?
ALT levels are normally less than 40 international units per liter. Levels above 1000 may be a sign of Acute viral hepatitis.
References
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/hepatitis
https://www.healthline.com/health/hepatitis#complications
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-b/symptoms-causes/syc-20366802
