The Early Signs and Symptoms of Hepatitis

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Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can be caused by viral infections, excessive alcohol consumption, injectable drugs, or autoimmune disorders. In its five forms – Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E – the virus is responsible for 1.4 million fatalities every year, with over 500 million people infected with either Hepatitis B or C. This disease can lead to complications including hepatocellular carcinoma, liver cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), and death.

Hepatitis A and E can be contracted through fecal-oral transmission from contaminated food, water or direct contact with an infected person. Hepatitis B – the most prevalent form – can be transmitted by bodily fluids. Hepatitis C is spread through contaminated blood, while Hepatitis D only occurs in people already infected with Hepatitis B. It is transmitted through similar methods to Hepatitis B, excluding mother to child transmission.

Adults who received donated blood or got an organ transplant prior to 1992 are more likely to have hepatitis, as minimal testing and screening was performed in the 1970s and 1980s compared to today.

Early Signs and Symptoms

The symptoms presented by the different viral hepatitis are similar, with only minimal differences in intensity and duration. These symptoms may include:

Importance of Understanding The Early Symptoms

Most people infected with hepatitis have no symptoms or show only mild symptoms, which prevents them from seeking treatment. This consequently allows the virus to replicate and cause fatal damages to the liver. Hepatitis B and C are the principal causes of chronic hepatitis that leads to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer in the years following infection. Over 50% of people infected with Hepatitis C develop chronic infection. However, this can be prevented if the infection is detected and treated early.

The symptoms of viral hepatitis are similar to that of other diseases. Most illness cause fever, tiredness, and body pain, after all. It is therefore important to know the early signs and symptoms, speak to a doctor and get tested. The CDC now actually recommends one-time hepatitis C testing of everyone 18 years and older and pregnant women during every pregnancy.

It is also important to understand the early symptoms of hepatitis because certain lifestyle choices worsen the illness. Infected people should avoid substances that are toxic to the liver such as alcohol or drugs like acetaminophen. Certain diets can also be damaging to the

Treatment Options

Effective treatment of hepatitis will help reduce the spread of infection, improve a patient’s prognosis, and increase quality of life. Various treatment methods are available including antiviral drugs, vaccination for prevention, and surgery.

Vaccination

Vaccines are only available for Hepatitis A, B and E although hepatitis E vaccine is not readily available. These vaccines prevent future infection, which is why they are highly recommended – particularly for children.

Antiviral Therapy

Treatment with oral antiviral drugs can help slowdown the replication of the Hepatitis B virus or eradicate Hepatitis C. Hepatitis A and E are treated mainly by supportive care for the symptoms. New direct-acting antiviral medications have produced better outcomes, shorter treatment times, and fewer side effects. These drugs should be prescribed by a doctor after confirmation of infection with laboratory tests.

Surgery

When infections progress and result in cancer or cirrhosis, a liver transplant may be required. During this procedure, a surgeon removes the sick liver and replaces it with one donated by a deceased or living donor. However, since the virus is likely to return if other steps are not taken, post-surgery antivirals are also often prescribed.

Talk To Your Doctor

Hepatitis adversely affects the lives of those chronically infected. The best way to prevent a bad outcome is education. By researching the early signs of hepatitis, you can detect possible infections early to ensure immediate treatment. There are various credible resources online that provide information. If you believe you are infected or you are experiencing the symptoms listed above, please speak to a doctor. Early detection could save your life.