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By Dr. Sudeep Khanna
Hepatitis is a liver disease in which the organ becomes inflamed due to viral and bacterial infections, autoimmune disorders, overweight, alcohol and some allopathic and ayurvedic medicines.
Depending on the duration of inflammation of the liver, hepatitis can be acute or chronic. Chronic liver injury causes cirrhosis and associated complications and liver cancer.
There are five unique hepatitis viruses – A, B, C, D and E.
Hepatitis: In Figures
According to the World Health Organization, the Southeast Asian Region, which includes India, has about 39 million people with chronic hepatitis B and 10 million people with chronic hepatitis C. Viral hepatitis causes as many deaths a year as tuberculosis, AIDS or malaria. Mortality due to viral hepatitis increases with time.
Causes
Hepatitis A and E (VHA / HEV) Spread Through Contaminated Food and Water Hepatitis B and C (HBV / HCV) In the case From chronic infection, the virus persists in the body, causing slow liver damage without any problem for the patient until it is very late.
The above viruses contribute to a large percentage of people suffering from hepatitis. These viruses spread through communicable means – contaminated food and water, sexual intercourse with an infected person, direct contact with infected blood, uncontrolled blood transfusions, sharing needles with drug addicts and sharing razors or brushes. teeth with infected persons (HBV / HCV). Hepatitis B can also be transmitted by an infected mother to her newborn during childbirth and the child's first growing years.
Hepatitis A and E spread through unhealthy conditions where food and water are contaminated with the faeces of the infected person. The infection spreads when this food / water is consumed by the person in good health.
There are other causes of hepatitis such as alcoholic hepatitis and autoimmune hepatitis. Alcoholic hepatitis is caused by excessive consumption of alcohol, which damages the liver. In the case of autoimmune hepatitis, the immune system misunderstands the liver as a foreign organ and begins to injure it.
These viruses do not spread by overhead or casual contact like a handshake or hug.
Symptoms
Hepatitis B is called "silent epidemic" Most people do not have symptoms of hepatitis B when they are newly infected. Common signs and symptoms of acute hepatitis, including HBV infection, include yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), dark urine, extreme tiredness, nausea, vomiting, loss of blood. Appetite, abdominal pain and joint and muscle pain.
Alcoholic hepatitis can cause permanent liver damage and lead to liver failure and cirrhosis.
Autoimmune hepatitis causes ongoing inflammation that can range from mild to severe, often impeding liver function. This is three times more common in women than in men.
Prevention and Treatment
– Early immunization is the key step in preventing infection with HAV and HBV.
– In general, people of all ages should wash their hands diligently after using the toilet and before handling or eating food.
– While having sex, use condoms as this can reduce the risk of transmission.
– Do not share needles and do not destroy them after one use.
– Avoid sharing personal items such as toothbrushes, razors and nail clippers with an infected person.
(The author is Senior Consultant – Gastroenterology at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals)
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