Hepatitis

Hepatitis generally signifies that there is inflammation and damage of the liver. There are 3 types of hepatitis: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. They are all caused by different viruses. Hepatitis A can be acute and only last for 6 months or less but Hepatitis B and C can be classed as chronic and will last for longer.
The Hepatitis A virus will mainly cause an infection of the liver but rarely progresses to more than that. A lot of it is due to poor sanitation and can spread through contaminated food or personal contact. It can be quite common in children
Hepatitis B causes the liver to swell and can result in extreme damage of the liver. It is a chronic problem and can consequently lead to many complications and health problems. The hepatitis B virus can be passed from one person to another though blood, semen or body fluids.
Hepatitis C is caused by the virus that lives in the liver cells and causes the liver to inflame and swell. Like hepatitis B, it can be passed if you come into contact with the blood of another person, ie. Via sharing needles, unsterilized needles used for tattoos etc.

SYMPTOMS OF HEPATITIS

At the beginning of the illness, you may not have any symptoms but Hepatitis A, B and C do share the same symptoms which include stomach pains, fevers, jaundice, nausea, tiredness, loss of appetite and irregular weightloss.

Treatments

The treatment for hepatitis depends on the type of hepatitis you have.

Hepatitis A

There is no treatment for hepatitis A as your body will clear up the virus on its own. It mainly focuses on keeping you comfortable and controlling the symptoms.

Rest — the infection is likely to make you feel sick, tired and fatigued so resting will help your recovery.
Managing nausea — attempt to snack throughout the day rather than eating big meals that may be difficult. Drink lots of fluids including juice, or milk, instead of just water.
Avoid alcohol and be careful with medications — it might be that your liver will have difficulty processing medications and alcohol.

Hepatitis B

The hepatitis B virus can be prevented through a vaccination. If you have been exposed to the virus and having been vaccinated, contact your doctor immediately and they will administer an injection of immunoglobulin which could prevent you getting sick.

If your doctor determines that you have the hepatitis B virus and it is acute you might not need treatment as the virus might go away on its own. Your doctor will suggest rest, nutrition and fluids to aid your body while it fights the infection.

If you have chronic hepatitis B:

You will need treatment for the rest of your life.

Antiviral medications — these can help to fight the virus and can slow down the damage to your liver. These can include medication like entecavir (Baraclude), tenofovir (Viread), lamivudine (Epivir), adefovir (Hepsera) and telbivudine (Tyzeka).
Interferon injections — this is a substance that helps to fight the infection and mimics the same substance inside the body.
Liver transplant — this will remove the entirety of your liver and replace it with a healthier liver.

Hepatitis C

Antiviral medications — this is the usual treatment for hepatitis C and is used to clear the virus from your body. After the treatment there should be no sign of hepatitis C in your body from at least 12 weeks after you have completed the course.
Liver transplant — this is used when a serious complication has developed from chronic hepatitis C. Your surgeon will remove your damaged liver and replaced it with a healthy one. This can come from deceased donors or through a living donor who will donate a portion of their liver. It is likely that the infection will return despite the liver transplant. Treatment could also include antivirals as well.
Vaccinations — there is no vaccine for hepatitis C but you might be recommended to have vaccinations against hepatitis A and B viruses.

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