Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. It may be caused by viral infection, alcohol consumption, several health conditions or even some medications. Treatment varies based on the type and underlying cause.

The symptoms of hepatitis may be mild but the condition can lead to severe complication. For example each type of hepatitis can cause Fulminant Hepatic Failure (FHF), which affects the liver.

Hepatitis may be acute or chronic. Acute hepatitis is short term lasting less than 6 months. Chronic hepatitis is long term lasting more than 6 months. Hepatitis C is the most common cause of chronic hepatitis.

The five main viral classifications of hepatitis are hepatitis A, B, C, D, E and G.

Causes of hepatitis with common route of transmission

Hepatitis A

Consuming food or drink contaminated with the feces of someone with the infection.

Hepatitis B

Contact with HBV in body fluids such as blood, vaginal secretions or semen.

Hepatitis C

Making contact with blood containing the virus mostly spread through contaminated needles of IV drug users, vaginal secretion or semen.

Hepatitis D

Contact with blood containing HDV.

Hepatitis E

Exposure to HEV in food or water, but occasionally from a pregnant women to a fetus.

Hepatitis G

Through blood containing the virus.

Causes of noninfectious hepatitis

Although hepatitis is most commonly the result of an infection other factors can cause the condition.

Alcohol and other toxins: Excess alcohol consumption can cause liver damage and inflammation. This may also be referred to as alcoholic hepatitis.

Autoimmune system response: In some cases the immune system mistakes the liver as harmful and attacks it. This causes ongoing inflammation that can range from mild to severe often hindering liver function.

 Risk factors

• Poor sanitation
• Contact with used needles, syringes or other objects that might be contaminated with blood infection with hepatitis viruses.
• Unsafe water for washing produce, drinking
• Unsafe sex with acute hepatitis A infection
• Use of recreational drugs

Symptoms

Common symptoms of infectious hepatitis include:

• Loss of appetite
• Dark urine
• Fatigue
• Pale stool
• Abdominal pain
• Flu like symptoms
• Yellow skin and eye
• Unexplained weight loss

 Hepatitis A symptoms: Dark urine, fever, fatigue, nausea jaundice and anorexia

Hepatitis B symptoms: Fatigue, anorexia unease and mild illness

Hepatitis C symptoms: 80% of have no symptoms but others have fatigue , and unease

Hepatitis D symptoms: Fatigue, anorexia, mild illness and unease

Hepatitis E: Mild illness

Hepatitis G: Mild infection, but most people have no symptoms

 Diagnosis

To diagnose autoimmune Hepatitis:

• A physical examination
• Symptoms
• medical history
• A liver biopsy
• blood and imaging test
• Blood test for
• Anti -HCV antibodies to diagnose HCV
• HAV specific immunoglobulin G (LgM) antibodies to diagnose HAV
• The surface antigen HBsAg to diagnose HBV
• High immunoglobulin G(IgG) and anti HDV immunoglobulin M (LgM)
• Virus specific IgM antibodies to identify HEV

Treatment

• Hepatitis A: Hepatitis A is a short-term illness and may not require treatment. However, if symptoms cause a great deal of discomfort, bed rest may be necessary, maintain your hydration and nutrition.
• Hepatitis B: There is no specific treatment program for acute hepatitis B. However if you have chronic hepatitis B you will require antiviral medication. Treatment for chronic hepatitis B also requires regular medical evaluations and monitoring to determine if the virus is responding to treatment.
• Hepatitis C: Antiviral medications can treat both acute and chronic forms of hepatitis C. People who develop cirrhosis or liver diseasee due to chronic hepatitis C may be candidates for a liver transplant.
• Hepatitis D: Pegylated interferon alpha ,nucleic acid polymers, Bulevirtide, avoid alcohol.
• Hepatitis E: No specific medical therapies are available to treat hepatitis E. But get adequate rest, drink plenty of fluids, get enough nutrients and avoid alcohol.
• Autoimmune hepatitis : Corticosteroids, Azathioprine, immune suppressing drugs like tacrolimus (Prograf) and cyclosporine   (Neoral )

Prevention

• Eating only cooked foods
• Washing your hands before eating or preparing food and using the bathroom
• Following safe sex practices
• Practicing safe food practices
• Drinking safe water from a safe source , use boiled water
• Avoid sharing needles or any equipment used for injecting drugs, tattooing
• Get vaccinated
• Peeling your own raw fruits and vegetable

Complication

• Leg ,ankle and foot swelling
• Jaundice
• Confusion
• Blood in the feces and vomit
• Loss of function
• Cirrhosis
• Liver failure
• Bleeding disorder
• Kidney failure