Hepatitis:
- inflammation of liver
- progress to fibrosis
- cirrhosis or liver cancer
Causes of Hepatitis:
– Hepatitis viruses (most common cause of hepatitis)
– other infections
– toxic substances
– autoimmune diseases
– other infections
– toxic substances
– autoimmune diseases
Types of hepatitis viruses:
– Type A Virus
– Type B Virus
– Type C Virus
– Type D Virus
– Type E Virus
Hepatitis A virus:
clears on its own without any treatment
Hepatitis B or C virus:
inflammation may become chronic
lead to long-term liver damage & complications
Hepatitis A:
- caused by Hepatitis A virus
- present in feces of infected persons
- transmitted through consumption of contaminated water or food
Symptoms of Hepatitis A:
flu like symptoms – fever, nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea
Hepatitis A may also cause jaundice:
- Mild infections most people making a full recovery. remain immune from further HAV infections
- HAV infections can be severe & life threatening
- Vaccines are available to prevent HAV infection
Hepatitis B:
- caused by Hepatitis B virus
- transmitted through: – infective blood – semen – body fluids
- transmitted from infected mothers to infants at birth
- family member to infant in early childhood
Symptoms of Hepatitis B:
- Jaundice – loss of appetite – nausea – vomiting
- diarrhea – muscle aches
Hepatitis B may also cause jaundice:
Acute (short lived) Chronic (persists for a long time).
Can lead to liver damage or liver cancer.
Vaccines are available to prevent HBV infection.
Hepatitis C:
- Caused by Hepatitis C virus (HCV)
- Mostly transmitted through infective blood
- This may happen through;
- transfusions of HCV-contaminated blood
- contaminated injections during medical procedures
- by injection drug use – sexual transmission
- Hepatitis C is contagious cause serious liver damage
- Without treatment, hepatitis C may lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer
Symptoms of Hepatitis C:
– fatigue – joint pain – muscle weakness
– jaundice
- There is no vaccine for HCV infection.
Hepatitis D:
- Caused by Hepatitis D virus (HDV)
- This infections occur only in those
- who are infected with HBV virus
- Dual infection of HDV and HBV can result in
- more serious disease and worse outcomes
- Hepatitis B vaccines also provide protection from HDV infection
Hepatitis E:
- Caused by Hepatitis E virus (HEV)
- Transmitted through consumption of contaminated water or food
- Common cause of hepatitis outbreaks in developing parts of the world
- Recognized as an important cause of disease in developed countries
- Vaccines to prevent HEV infection have been developed but not widely available