What is Hepatitis?
Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver according to the CDC. The duration of this disease can either be acute (lasting less than 6 months). Or chronic (lasting more than 6 months). Viral hepatitis may spread from person to person. In some cases through sexual contact. Several different viruses cause viral hepatitis. They’re named hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E viruses.
Hepatitis A (HAV)
Hepatitis A (HAV) is an acute illness that never becomes chronic. HAV spreads through the ingestion of food or water, kissing, or unsanitary practices.
Most HAV is contracted from contaminated fruits, vegetables, and shellfish. Traveling to countries where HAV is common can up your chance of contraction. As well as using illicit drugs, and having close personal contact with an infected person.
Hepatitis B (HBV)
Hepatitis B (HBV) may develop from an acute illness into a chronic HBV infection. The infection spreads in a multitude of ways. Like sharing needles, blood transfusions, giving birth, tattooing, body piercing, and sharing razors. Unprotected sexual contact can also transmit the virus. Patients with chronic HBV face serious health risks. Such as developing cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer.
HBV often causes damage to the liver before any signs or symptoms are experienced by a person. For this reason, screenings are of utmost importance for high risk individuals.
Hepatitis C (HCV)
Hepatitis C (HCV) is the most dangerous form of viral hepatitis. It can often go undetected for decades all while damaging your liver. It may also develop into a chronic HCV infection. Some symptoms may include fever, dark urine, abdominal pain, and yellowing of the skin.
Over many years the infection often progresses into liver disease and/or cirrhosis. This may develop into liver failure, liver cancer. Or dilated blood vessels in the esophagus and stomach.
HCV spreads through blood-to-blood contact. Associated with IV drug use, poorly sterilized medical equipment, and transfusions. HCV infects only humans and chimpanzees. Although there’s no vaccine against HCV, chronic infection may be cured. Antiviral medications such as sofosbuvir or simeprevir have a 95% success rate.
Hepatitis D (HDV)
Hepatitis D (HDV) is another virus that causes liver inflammation. It cannot survive on its own like the other forms of Hepatitis. Since it requires a protein that the HBV produces to enable it to infect liver cells. HDV only infects individuals that have already been infected with hepatitis B.
Patients with hepatitis B can see an increase in symptom severity with HDV. It can also elicit non-symptomatic people with HBV to have symptoms.
Hepatitis E (HEV)
Hepatitis E (HEV) is similar to HAV. Outbreaks generally occur in Asia. Where it transmits through the fecal oral route with contaminated water. HEV has 4 different genotypes labeled 1,2,3, & 4. The first two are prevalent in humans. The latter 2 in animals such as pigs and deer. Infections are usually acute, lasting several weeks at most.
Hepatitis G (HGV)
Hepatitis G (HGV) resembles HCV and the virus’s effects are under investigation. A rare form of hepatic inflammation. Its role in causing disease in humans is uncertain. Most persons infected with HGB are asymptomatic.
