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Bennet, a vibrant young man in his 30s has always been enthusiastic, until he began feeling unusually fatigued. At first, he brushed it off as work stress but when the jaundice set in, Bennet knew something was seriously wrong. A visit to the doctor confirmed that he had hepatitis. This marked the start of Bennet’s journey to understand and manage this disease.
According to WHO, 254 million people live with hepatitis B and 50 million with hepatitis C. Half the burden of chronic hepatitis B and C infections is among people 30–54 years old, with 12% among children under 18 years of age. Men account for 58% of all cases.
In this blog we will learn about what hepatitis is, its symptoms, types of hepatitis, causes of the different types, how they are transmitted along with the prevention and treatment of hepatitis.
What is Hepatitis
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, often caused by a viral infection or injury. It may also result from several other factors such as, toxins, certain medications, and autoimmune diseases. Just about any liver disease will cause hepatitis. Sometimes the injury and the inflammatory response are temporary, but sometimes they are ongoing.
The liver, a vital organ, processes nutrients, filters the blood, and fights infections. Inflammation can impair these functions, leading to significant health issues.
There are many causes of hepatitis. Viral hepatitis is caused by a virus and can either be acute which can last less than six months or chronic, lasting for more than six months. Viral hepatitis can be spread from person to person. Some types of viral hepatitis can be spread through sexual contact.
Hepatitis can be covert and does not always cause noticeable symptoms at first. You might notice:
• Upper abdominal pain or soreness, especially on the right side.
• Nausea and loss of appetite.
• Fatigue
• Fever (if you have a viral infection)
One might also notice additional symptoms when hepatitis begins to interfere with the liver functioning. This can happen in more severe cases of acute hepatitis and in cases of chronic hepatitis that have been going on for a long time. When the liver is not able to process bile as it usually does, bile does not go where it needs to in your body and instead overflows into the bloodstream. This may cause:
• Jaundice (a yellow tint to your skin and eyes).
• Dark-coloured urine and light-coloured stools
• Pruritus (itchy skin).
• Confusion, disorientation or drowsiness (hepatic encephalopathy).
Hepatitis has many causes and types. Most of them cause either acute or chronic hepatitis and depends on how long they are affecting the liver. Healthcare providers classify common causes into types of hepatitis.
Viral hepatitis:
Viral hepatitis is caused by viruses that infect and damage the liver cells, which leads to inflammation, which is a response from your immune system. Viral infections that cause hepatitis include:
Toxic hepatitis
Toxins in the bloodstream can cause toxic hepatitis, especially in higher doses and when the liver is already stressed for another reason. The liver filters toxins from the blood every day, but if the toxic load gets too heavy, these toxins can slow it down or even damage its cells. The damage can be acute or chronic, depending on how severe it is and how often or how long you are exposed. Causes include:
Alcohol-induced hepatitis
Alcohol-induced hepatitis can be chronic or acute. One can get acute hepatitis after a short drinking binge or chronic hepatitis from chronic, heavy alcohol use. Alcohol is always toxic to your liver, but most people can tolerate a certain amount. However, how much is too much varies. While most people develop hepatitis from heavy drinking, some people are more sensitive to alcohol than others.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis
Steatohepatitis means hepatitis from fat. It is an advanced stage of fatty liver disease. That means your liver has begun storing extra fat in its tissues. Alcohol use is one common cause of fat storage in your liver. When it is not alcohol-related, it is called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. When this excess fat builds up enough, it can cause metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. This is related to:
Autoimmune hepatitis
Some people develop chronic hepatitis as an autoimmune disease. That means their immune systems mistakenly attack their own liver tissues. Autoimmune diseases often develop for no apparent reason. While autoimmune hepatitis causes liver inflammation directly, other autoimmune diseases can affect the bile ducts that run through your liver (primary biliary cholangitis or primary sclerosing cholangitis).
Other causes
Other possible causes of hepatitis include:
Healthcare providers perform several tests to diagnose hepatitis and its causes, including:
Management and Treatment
Healthcare providers treat hepatitis by removing as many stress factors from the liver as they can. Some of these involve changes in diet and lifestyle. By removing toxins and alcohol, and by reducing fat in the diet may take stress off the liver. Some people might benefit from medications prescribed by their healthcare providers to help manage fat in the blood and blood sugar.
Certain types of chronic hepatitis may be treated directly with medications. Chronic hepatitis C is curable with antivirals, while chronic hepatitis B needs lifelong treatment. Inherited metabolic diseases and autoimmune hepatitis are also lifelong conditions. Medications and lifestyle changes help reduce the stress on the liver and limit the severity of chronic hepatitis.
Hepatitis can be prevented by:
Getting vaccinated: Vaccines are available to prevent viral hepatitis A and B.
Practicing good hygiene: Using handwash after the use of bathroom, safe food handling and safe needle use helps prevent infections from spreading.
Drinking alcohol in moderation and using medications as directed by the healthcare professional.
Managing metabolic factors such as the fat in blood and blood sugar. A healthcare provider can help with this.
How Cellmaflex helps patients-
Cellmaflex is an all-in-one healthcare hub. Patients can sign up on Cellmaflex for free. Through Cellmaflex, they can search the directory to find the right specialist in a few clicks. Patients can easily view the doctors’ calendars and check their availability. With Cellmaflex, patients can book appointments with desired doctors with ease and receive appointment reminders.
Patients can receive their test results directly, access the test results and health records anytime, anywhere. Patients can order prescriptions with secure online payments.
Hepatitis is a complicated and multi-layered disease. Understanding the types of hepatitis, causes, and modes of transmission can help us take preventative measures and seek timely treatment.
If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of hepatitis, early diagnosis and treatment is very important. Don’t hesitate—take control of your health today. Book an appointment on Cellmaflex and get the professional medical support you need to manage and overcome hepatitis.
Disclaimer: Please note that the information is strictly for informative purposes. It is not intended to be used in lieu of professional medical advice, inclusive of diagnosis or treatment. It is strongly advised that you seek a doctor’s medical advice on any treatment or medical condition that you learn about.
Recent Blogs
Viral hepatitis is contagious. Other types of hepatitis aren’t. Viruses, however, are the most common cause of hepatitis worldwide. And viruses, by nature, are all contagious. There are at least five distinct hepatitis viruses — hepatitis A, B, C, D and E — as well as other viral infections that can cause hepatitis. These different viruses spread in different ways. Some of the ways viral hepatitis can spread include:
Food poisoning: Hepatitis A and E commonly spread through contaminated food and water.
Contaminated blood: Hepatitis B, C and D can spread through contact with blood from an infected person. This commonly happens when sharing needles for intravenous drug use.
Bodily fluids: Hepatitis B and D can spread through other bodily fluids as well as blood. They commonly spread through sexual contact and from parent to child during childbirth.
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© 2025 RIOMED LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | WWW.RIOMED.COM
ISO 9001 | ISO 14001 | ISO 27001 | Cyber Essentials