Viral hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver tissue as a result of a viral infection.
Types of viral hepatitis
There are several different types of viral hepatitis, and they are as follows
Hepatitis A.
Hepatitis B.
Hepatitis C.
Hepatitis C d.
Hepatitis D virus appears only in people who have been previously exposed to the type B virus.
In order to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus as a result of transfusion of infected blood, hospitals perform numerous examinations and tests in order to exclude the possibility of the presence of the virus in the blood meals provided to patients, and the probability of infection with hepatitis C virus is 1: 100,000.
Symptoms of viral hepatitis
Hepatitis A is a relatively mild disease and symptoms do not persist for long, but long-incubated hepatitis B, lupus-like hepatitis C and type D cause long-term symptoms and require long and continuous medical treatment.
1. Simple symptoms of viral hepatitis
Symptoms of viral hepatitis are multiple and related to the cause of the disease and the degree of damage to the liver. In relatively easy cases, the disease is asymptomatic, or with symptoms similar to those of mild flu:
high body temperature
Feeling of exhaustion and general fatigue.
Anorexia.
Nausea and vomiting.
Discomfort and pain in the upper right part of the abdomen, as a result of swelling and enlargement of the liver.
muscle pain
1. Serious Hepatitis C symptoms
In more severe cases of viral hepatitis, because the liver is damaged and unable to filter the blood effectively, toxic chemicals build up in the circulation causing the following symptoms:
Yellowing of the skin and the white part of the eye.
Concentrated and dark urine.
Excrement tends to gray color.
A high temperature and a general feeling of illness.
This condition is life-threatening and requires immediate medical treatment, otherwise the damage to the liver is irreversible.
Causes and risk factors of viral hepatitis
Viral hepatitis is caused by the virus that causes the disease, and in most cases the source of the disease is the result of infection from three main viruses:
Hepatitis A virus.
Hepatitis B virus.
Hepatitis C virus.
Methods of infection
Viral hepatitis can be transmitted from one person to another in several different ways, depending on the virus responsible for the disease, such as:
Touching the stool of a person infected with hepatitis A virus.
Eating seafood infected with sewage contaminated with hepatitis A virus.
Contact with infected blood, vaginal secretions, semen, and breast milk contaminated with hepatitis B virus.
Having unprotected sexual relations with a person who is infected with both types of hepatitis B virus: type B and type C.
Use of used or contaminated injections of hepatitis B, type C, or type D.
risk factors
Hepatitis may be caused by various causative factors, such as
Excessive alcohol consumption.
Some drug treatments.
Herpes simplex virus.
A bacterial infection capable of causing hepatitis.
Complications of viral hepatitis
The most important complications of viral hepatitis are
Liver cirrhosis.
Chronic hepatitis.
liver failure
Diagnosis of viral hepatitis
During the process of diagnosing viral hepatitis, the attending physician requests a complete breakdown of the patient''s medical history and asks questions related to the following:
Use of drugs or alcohol, in order to determine if the source of the disease is a virus or another cause.
Taking medications that may cause damage to the liver tissue.
Having unprotected sexual relations.
Direct contact with patients known to have viral hepatitis.
Examinations performed
The doctor performs the following examinations
A complete physical examination, which checks for yellowing of the skin and eyes.
Liver sensitivity test, a test that is generally done by feeling the area in order to make sure that the disease is not viral hepatitis
blood tests
Liver biopsy.
Treatment of viral hepatitis
Treatments vary according to the type of hepatitis C, and they are as follows
1. Hepatitis A treatment
There are no treatments for hepatitis A.
2. Hepatitis B treatment
Hepatitis B can be treated with one of the following medicines
Pegylated interferon-alpha.
Adefovir (Adifovir).
Lamivudine.
3. Hepatitis C treatment
It is treated with a combination drug consisting of pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin.
If the treatment fails to cure the virus, the doctor resorts to a liver transplant.
Prevention of viral hepatitis
To prevent viral hepatitis, you should do the following
Receive vaccinations for hepatitis A and type B.
Practice safe sex by using a condom.
Do not use the tools of the injured person.
Do not share the syringe with others.
Maintain personal hygiene.
