A Liver Affected By Viral Attack: Hepatitis, A Neglected Threat
Preventing hepatitis is crucial, and certain precautions can safeguard the liver from not only hepatitis but also other diseases.
Liver is one of the vital organs of your body sitting right under your rib cage at the right-hand side of the abdomen. It performs some of the most important physiological functions of the body starting from flushing out toxins and processing nutrients to filtering out blood and fighting infection. Any major damage to this organ can be life threatening. Your liver can be affected by many factors like genetic issues, immunological disorders, cancer, lifestyle disorders like poor eating habits and alcohol habits and viral infections. Hepatitis is the one of the most common conditions that damage the liver. Simply put, it is a condition that leads to inflammation in the liver.
Hepatitis can be infectious and non-infectious:
Infectious hepatitis
Hepatitis can be triggered by infections caused by five different viruses: Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E.
Chronic liver inflammation is caused by HBV, HCV, autoimmune response, excessive alcohol consumption and other factors. In such cases, the symptoms may be subtle; however, acute, infectious hepatitis may itself manifest quickly. Some symptoms include:
Causes
Hepatitis can be attributed to viruses and factors such as an autoimmune response, overdose of certain medicines, alcohol abuse and exposure to certain drugs and poisons. In infectious, viral hepatitis, the route of transmission could be contaminated food and water, infected blood and body fluids such as semen.
Risk Factors
The following are the risk factors of hepatitis:
Based on symptoms, the doctor will conduct a physical examination to look for the enlargement of the liver, yellowing of the skin, and fluid presence in the abdomen. During physical examination, your doctor may gently press your stomach to see if there is pain or any tenderness:
Blood tests: Multiple blood tests are performed to look for the presence of viruses that cause hepatitis and antibodies commonly found for autoimmune hepatitis. Your doctor may suggest blood work for a liver function test. They will verify the levels of certain liver enzymes in your bloodstream. High volumes indicate that there is impairment in your liver function or it is damaged.
Ultrasound: With the help of this imaging test, your doctor takes a closer look at your liver as well as other organs. An ultrasound reveals the presence of fluid in your abdomen, damage or enlargement in the liver, abnormality in your gallbladder, and the culprit behind the impaired liver function.
Liver biopsy: This invasive procedure helps your doctor see if there is any infection, inflammation or abnormality in your liver. For a liver biopsy, your doctor will collect a liver tissue sample with the help of a needle or via surgery.
The underlying cause behind hepatitis and the severity of condition determines the line of treatment. Acute liver inflammation caused by hepatitis A and E viruses mostly resolve on their own. They are short-term illnesses that require complete bed rest, plenty of fluids, a closely-monitored diet, and abstinence from alcohol. While acute hepatitis B resolves in 90% patient with long-term immunity, the chronic form of this liver inflammation necessitates antiviral medications on a long-term basis. People with hepatitis C are treated with antiviral drug therapies. However, if this condition leads to scarring of the liver, a transplant may be required. Currently, there is no medicine for hepatitis D. For autoimmune hepatitis, doctors prescribe corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. The treatment for alcoholic hepatitis is aimed at providing symptomatic relief and prevent disease progression.
Hepatitis Diet
For managing hepatitis, a healthy diet should be followed. Depending on the cause of liver inflammation, though the dietary recommendations may vary, certain golden rules help in the healing process:
Vaccines can prevent both hepatitis A and B. The immunisation for HBV can protect you against hepatitis D because it develops along with hepatitis B. However, there are no vaccines for hepatitis C and E. For hepatitis A, there is a series of two vaccines available for children between 12 and 18 months and adults. For hepatitis B, there is a set of three vaccines recommended for new-borns. The dosage is completed within the first 18 months of life.
In addition to vaccines, there are other ways to keep hepatitis at bay:
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Did you know that the liver helps in blood sugar regulation? Dr Shalin Shah, Endocrinologist & Diabetologist, explains the unique connection between hepatitis and diabetes.
Vaccines are available for hepatitis A and B, and antiviral medications can effectively treat hepatitis C.
Safeguarding the health of liver and kidneys is essential for the overall well-being of a patient. Read on to know the link between the two.
By staying committed to innovation and global health equity, we can envisage a future where Hepatitis B is no longer a formidable health threat, and millions can live healthier lives.
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WHO aims to bring hepatitis care closer to you: The aim is to increase awareness and get simplified hepatitis testing, prevention and treatment services integrated into primary health care services.
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Read on to learn more about hepatitis, including causes, diagnosis, treatment as well as how you can prevent it.
World Hepatitis Day is observed on July 28 to raise awareness about preventing hepatitis, which is causing more deaths than AIDS and tuberculosis.
Supporting your liver this World Hepatitis Day with these dietary recommendations
Hepatitis A is an inflammation of the liver, which has no specific treatment. However, a group of researchers from North Carolina have discovered a potential cure for the disease.
Although considered less common, autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) should not be ignored. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can prevent liver failure.
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