Pain, inflammation, and swelling of the liver are what cis all about. The liver is very important for the body for the range of functions that it gives. These include producing bile, metabolism regulation, toxin removal, protein making, and storing iron and vitamins.
Serious illnesses and even death could be the causes if the liver does not work properly. Hepatitis can be developed by drug use, infections, alcohol, viruses, chemicals, and a lot more factors. An ongoing inflammation of the liver, for anything that has caused it, leads to chronic hepatitis.
The different letters of the alphabet have been used to brand the various types of viral hepatitis. These have been used for hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. While all of them affect the liver, they have different treatments because they spread their infection is different ways too.
Symptoms
Not all infected persons show symptoms. However, if they happen, they may include:
- Jaundice (yellow eyes and skin)
- Fever
- Easy bruising
- Nausea
- Swelling or edema
- Abdominal pain
- Joint pain
- Dark urine
- Fatigue
Hepatitis A
Direct contact with objects, food, and drinks that are contaminated by the feces of a person infected with hepatitis A virus can pass on the infection. A person usually recovers fully even if the symptoms last for several weeks. Lifetime immunity with hepatitis A is given after a bout of infection with it. This immunity will not extend to other forms of hepatitis. The best protection and prevention against hepatitis A is vaccination.
Hepatitis B
The blood, and to some degree, the body fluids such as vaginal fluids and semen are the places that the hepatitis B can be found. An infected person’s blood can gain entry into your bloodstream through sharing of contaminated needles, and unsafe sex practices among other things.
There is also a possibility of an infected mother passing the virus to the newborn during childbirth.
A long-term infection from hepatitis B where the virus stays in the body for life would be the cause if people get infected. Long-term hepatitis B is more likely to develop in children and babies than adults when they get infected.
The hepatitis B infection can be prevented through a vaccine which is available and even included in standard immunization programs for babies and children. Newborns can avoid the infection by screening pregnant women before birth. Hepatitis B immunoglobulin and hepatitis B vaccination is given to a newborn if a mother tests positive for the infection.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is passed along when the blood of an infected person enters the bloodstream of another person. The most common way of transmitting the virus would be through sharing of contaminated needles which usually happens among drug users. Some people who become infected with hepatitis C can clear it from their system even without treatment. However, the majority may continue to have the virus in the blood which develops to chronic hepatitis C. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C.