Hepatitis: what is it, types, symptoms and treatments

The liver is the largest organ in our body. Thanks to it, we can digest food, store energy and eliminate toxins from our body. However, like all other organs and structures, the liver is not immune to viruses and diseases.

One of the main liver conditions is hepatitis, in any of its different forms. In this article we will discuss what hepatitis is, describe the different types, their symptoms, and their treatment.

• Related article: "The differences between syndrome, disorder and disease"

What is Hepatitis?

Hepatitis is a viral disease that causes inflammation of liver tissue, affecting vital organs; mainly to the liver.

While it is true that some people do not develop symptoms of hepatitis, the most common signs of the onset of this disease include the development of a yellowish tint to the skin and eyes, as well as lack of appetite and continuous feeling of tiredness.

Depending on the duration of this (more or less than six months), we can distinguish between temporary hepatitis and chronic hepatitis. The temporary form occurs acutely over a period of time, whereas

chronic hepatitis appears less severely but for a longer time.

However, although temporary or acute hepatitis can remit on its own, it can sometimes become chronic hepatitis and very rarely lead to acute liver failure. For chronic hepatitis, this form can lead to scarring of the liver, liver failure, and even liver cancer.

Most cases of hepatitis are caused by a viral infection. Nevertheless, drug or alcohol use an abnormal autoimmune response may also be the cause of this liver disease. We can differentiate between several types of hepatitis, hepatitis A, B, C, D, categorized according to the type of virus or cause that causes it.

In data from 2015, there were approximately 114 million cases of hepatitis A worldwide; 343 million people with chronic hepatitis B and 142 million with chronic hepatitis C.

As a result, it is estimated that, annually, there are more than one million deaths caused by hepatitis both directly and indirectly. In most cases, people with hepatitis die from liver scarring or liver cancer.

• You may be interested: "Major cell types of the human body"

Symptoms of this disease

Although there are people in whom this disease is asymptomatic, hepatitis is characterized by presenting a wide range of symptomsranging from very mild or barely noticeable symptoms to severe liver failure.

In addition, in each of the different forms of hepatitis the symptoms can manifest themselves in different ways. However, since in all cases the kidney is the main organ affected, hepatitis can present the following liver symptoms:

• Decrease and loss of appetite.
• Nausea and / or vomiting.
• Diarrhea.
• Dark-hued urine and pale stools.
• Stomachache.
• Yellowing of the skin and eyes or jaundice.

In cases where hepatitis becomes complicated or chronic liver failure, liver cancer or even cirrhosis may occur, a condition that causes permanent scarring of the liver. Types of hepatitis: causes and treatment

1. Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is one of the most contagious forms of hepatitis. Caused by the hepatitis A virus, the most likely way to be spread is through contaminated food or water, as well as through close contact with an infected person or object. The most common routes of infection include:

• Ingestion of food handled by a person with hepatitis A who has not washed their hands well.
• Drink contaminated water.
• Ingestion of raw crustacean found in waters contaminated with hepatitis A.
• Close contact with an infected person.
• Unprotected sex with an infected person.

The characteristic symptoms of hepatitis A do not usually appear until the virus remains in the body for a few weeks, and they do not appear in all patients.

Treatment

At the moment, no specific treatment for hepatitis A has been developed. The body is usually capable of eliminating the virus on its own, taking approximately 6 to six months for the liver to fully recover.

However, it is recommended that the person stay at rest, eat high-calorie foods, stay hydrated, and avoid alcohol.

2. Hepatitis B

As for hepatitis B, it is caused by the hepatitis B virus and its contagion is primarily associated with unprotected sexual contact, exchange of infected needles, accidental stick with an infected needle or through mother-to-child transmission.

In most cases, hepatitis B becomes chronic, increasing the risk of liver failure, liver cancer, or cirrhosis.

Treatment

Treatment for hepatitis B is divided into: treatment to prevent infection after exposure, treatment for acute hepatitis B, and treatment for chronic hepatitis B. In the case of prevention of the spread of hepatitis B, medical personnel administer an immunoglobulin injection and a hepatitis B injection.

In acute hepatitis B, no treatment may be required as the infection may clear up on its own. In mild cases, rest and plenty of hydration are recommended, while in more severe cases antiviral medications may be required.

Finally, chronic hepatitis requires lifelong treatment which reduces both the symptoms and the chances of contagion or other people. Treatment for hepatitis B may include antiviral drugs, interferon injections, or even a liver transplant if the liver is badly damaged.

3. Hepatitis C

In the third type of hepatitis, hepatitis C is spread by the spread of blood contaminated with the hepatitis C virus. This means that, for infection to occur, blood contaminated with the virus enters the bloodstream of an uninfected person.

In addition to the usual symptoms, hepatitis C can cause a number of symptoms specific to it. These include:

• Bleeding and bruising easy to cause.
• Itchy skin sensation.
• Accumulation of fluid in the abdomen.
• Swelling in the legs.
• Feeling of confusion, drowsiness and difficulty speaking.
• Appearance of spider-like blood vessels.

As with hepatitis B, treatment for hepatitis C consists of antiviral medications, hepatitis C vaccines, and / or kidney transplantation.

4. Hepatitis D

Also known as the delta virus, hepatitis D has the highest mortality rate and is only spread in the presence of the hepatitis B virus; so that is considered a subviral satellite. The spread of hepatitis D can occur either through a simultaneous infection with hepatitis B or superimposed on chronic hepatitis B.

These coinfections or superinfections can lead to much more serious complications in the patient such as liver failure in severe infections and a rapid onset and progression of liver cirrhosis. Which carries an increased risk of kidney cancer.

Treatment

It has been shown that the hepatitis B vaccine also protects against type C virus, due to its dependency. However, in the case of safe contagion, treatment with interferon has proven to be very effective to reduce the viral load and the effect of the disease during the time the drug is administered medicine.

Bibliographic references:

• Nakamoto, Y., & Kaneko, S. (2003). Mechanisms of viral hepatitis induced liver injury. Current Molecular Medicine, 3 (6): 537–544.
• Villar, L.M., Cruz. H. M., Barbosa, J. R., Bezerra, C. S., Portilho, M. M. & Scalioni, L. P. (2015). Update on hepatitis B and C virus diagnosis. World Journal of Virology, 4 (4): 323–342.
• Sahani, D. V. & Kalva, S. P. (2004). Imaging the Liver. The Oncologist, 9 (4): 385–397.