e-book Hepatitis A to G: The Facts You Need to Know About All the Forms of This Dangerous Disease

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What You Need to Know About Hepatitis | Everyday Health

Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. The virus is one of several types of hepatitis viruses that cause inflammation and affect your liver's ability to function. You're most likely to get hepatitis A from contaminated food or water or from close contact with a person or object that's infected.

Mild cases of hepatitis A don't require treatment. Most people who are infected recover completely with no permanent liver damage. Practicing good hygiene, including washing hands frequently, is one of the best ways to protect against hepatitis A. Vaccines are available for people most at risk. Hepatitis A signs and symptoms typically don't appear until you've had the virus for a few weeks. But not everyone with hepatitis A develops them.

If you do, hepatitis signs and symptoms can include:. These symptoms may be relatively mild and go away in a few weeks. Sometimes, however, hepatitis A infection results in a severe illness that lasts several months. Getting a hepatitis A vaccine or an injection of immunoglobulin an antibody within two weeks of exposure to hepatitis A may protect you from infection.

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Ask your doctor or your local health department about receiving the hepatitis A vaccine if:. Hepatitis A is caused by a virus that infects liver cells and causes inflammation.

What You Need to Know About Hepatitis | Everyday Health

The inflammation can affect how your liver works and cause other signs and symptoms of hepatitis A. The virus most commonly spreads when you eat or drink something contaminated with fecal matter, even just tiny amounts. It does not spread through sneezing or coughing. Unlike other types of viral hepatitis, hepatitis A does not cause long-term liver damage, and it doesn't become chronic.

In rare cases, hepatitis A can cause a sudden loss of liver function, especially in older adults or people with chronic liver diseases.

Acute liver failure requires a stay in the hospital for monitoring and treatment. To diagnose hepatitis, first your doctor will take your history to determine any risk factors you may have for infectious or noninfectious hepatitis. Your doctor may also feel to see if your liver is enlarged.

If your skin or eyes are yellow, your doctor will note this during the exam. Liver function tests use blood samples to determine how efficiently your liver works. High liver enzyme levels may indicate that your liver is stressed, damaged, or not functioning properly. If your liver function tests are abnormal, your doctor will likely order other blood tests to detect the source of the problem. These tests can check for the viruses that cause hepatitis. They can also be used to check for antibodies that are common in conditions like autoimmune hepatitis. An abdominal ultrasound uses ultrasound waves to create an image of the organs within your abdomen.

This test allows your doctor to take a close at your liver and nearby organs. Sometimes the pancreas shows up on ultrasound images as well. This can be a useful test in determining the cause of your abnormal liver function.

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A liver biopsy is an invasive procedure that involves your doctor taking a sample of tissue from your liver. Typically, an ultrasound is used to guide your doctor when taking the biopsy sample. This test allows your doctor to determine how infection or inflammation has affected your liver. It can also be used to sample any areas in your liver that appear abnormal.

Treatment options are determined by which type of hepatitis you have and whether the infection is acute or chronic.

Bed rest may be recommended if symptoms cause a great deal of discomfort. The hepatitis A vaccine is available to prevent this infection. Most children begin vaccination between ages 12 and 18 months.

Vaccination for hepatitis A is also available for adults and can be combined with the hepatitis B vaccine. Chronic hepatitis B is treated with antiviral medications. This form of treatment can be costly because it must be continued for several months or years. Treatment for chronic hepatitis B also requires regular medical evaluations and monitoring to determine if the virus is responding to treatment. Hepatitis B can be prevented with vaccination. The CDC recommends hepatitis B vaccinations for all newborns.

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The series of three vaccines is typically completed over the first six months of childhood. The vaccine is also recommended for all healthcare and medical personnel. Antiviral medications are used to treat both acute and chronic forms of hepatitis C. People who develop chronic hepatitis C are typically treated with a combination of antiviral drug therapies. They may also need further testing to determine the best form of treatment.

People who develop cirrhosis scarring of the liver or liver disease as a result of chronic hepatitis C may be candidates for a liver transplant.

What You Need to Know About Hepatitis

No antiviral medications exist for the treatment of hepatitis D at this time. According to a study , a drug called alpha interferon can be used to treat hepatitis D, but it only shows improvement in about 25 to 30 percent of people. Hepatitis D can be prevented by getting the vaccination for hepatitis B, as infection with hepatitis B is necessary for hepatitis D to develop. Currently, no specific medical therapies are available to treat hepatitis E. Because the infection is often acute, it typically resolves on its own.

People with this type of infection are often advised to get adequate rest, drink plenty of fluids, get enough nutrients, and avoid alcohol. However, pregnant women who develop this infection require close monitoring and care. Corticosteroids, like prednisone or budesonide, are extremely important in the early treatment of autoimmune hepatitis. Azothioprine Imuran , a drug that suppresses the immune system, is often included in treatment.

It can be used with or without steroids. Other immune suppressing drugs like mycophenolate CellCept , tacrolimus Prograf and cyclosporine Neoral can also be used as alternatives to azathioprine for treatment. Practicing good hygiene is one key way to avoid contracting hepatitis A and E. Hepatitis B and C can also be contracted through sexual intercourse and intimate sexual contact.

Practicing safe sex by using condoms and dental dams can help decrease the risk of infection. You can find many options available for purchase online. The use of vaccines is an important key to preventing hepatitis. Vaccinations are available to prevent the development of hepatitis A and B. Experts are currently developing vaccines against hepatitis C.

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It can also be used to sample any areas in your liver that appear abnormal. Vaccines protect against hepatitis A and B. Your liver is located in the right upper area of your abdomen. Learn about liver cancer symptoms, types, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Common symptoms of hepatitis.

Chronic hepatitis B or C can often lead to more serious health problems. Because the virus affects the liver, people with chronic hepatitis B or C are at risk for:. When your liver stops functioning normally, liver failure can occur. Complications of liver failure include:. People with chronic hepatitis B and C are encouraged to avoid alcohol because it can accelerate liver disease and failure.

Hepatitis C - A Silent But Curable Disease

Certain supplements and medications can also affect liver function. If you have chronic hepatitis B or C, check with your doctor before taking any new medications.