Hepatitis

Inflammation of the liver, caused by infectious or toxic agents is known as hepatitis.

A group of viruses known as the hepatitis viruses cause most cases of liver damage worldwide. Hepatitis can also be due to toxins (notably alcohol), other infections or from autoimmune process. It may run a subclinical course when the affected person may not feel ill. The patient becomes unwell and symptomatic when the disease impairs liver functions that include, among other things, removal of harmful substances, regulation of blood composition, and production of bile to help digestion.
There are two types-

1. Acute
2. Chronic

Causes

Acute

• Viral hepatitis: Hepatitis A through E (more than 95% of viral cause), Herpes simplex, Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr, yellow fever virus, adenoviruses.
• Non viral infection: toxoplasma, Leptospira, Q fever, rocky mountain spotted fever
• Alcohol
• Toxins: Amanita toxin in mushrooms, carbon tetrachloride, asafetida
• Drugs: Paracetamol, amoxycillin, antituberculosis medicines, minocycline and many others.
• Ischemic hepatitis (circulatory insufficiency)
• Pregnancy
• Auto immune conditions, e.g., Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
• Metabolic diseases, e.g., Wilson's disease

• Viral hepatitis: Hepatitis B with or without hepatitis D, hepatitis C (neither hepatitis A nor hepatitis E causes chronic hepatitis)
• Autoimmune: Autoimmune hepatitis
• Alcohol
• Drugs: methyldopa, nitrofurantoin, isoniazid, ketoconazole
• Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
• Heredity: Wilson's disease, alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency
• Primary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis occasionally mimic chronic hepatitis

• when someone ingests anything that's contaminated with HAV-infected stool (this makes it easy for the virus to spread in overcrowded, unsanitary living conditions)
• in water, milk, and foods, especially in shellfish.

• A short, mild, flu-like illness.
• Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
• Loss of appetite.
• Weight loss.
• Jaundice (yellow skin and whites of eyes, darker yellow urine and pale faeces).
• Itchy skin.
• Abdominal pain.

Diagnosis

1. Medical history and physical examination
2. Liver Function test.
3. Antibody (antiHAV) test.

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for HAV and most people fight off the virus naturally, returning to full health within a couple of months. The doctor will advise avoiding alcohol and fatty foods as these can be hard for the liver to process and may exacerbate the inflammation.

Patients should get plenty of rest and eat a nutritious diet. They should also ensure they do not spread HAV by washing their hands after using the toilet and before preparing food. Patients with more severe symptoms may be monitored in hospital for a short period.  Homeopathy can heal Hepatitis A completely.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a serious disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Infection with this virus can cause scarring of the liver, liver failure, liver cancer, and even death.
HBV spreads through:

• infected body fluids, such as blood, saliva, semen, vaginal fluids, tears, and urine
• a contaminated blood transfusion (uncommon in developed countries)
• shared contaminated needles or syringes for injecting drugs
• sexual activity with an HBV-infected person
• transmission from HBV-infected mothers to their newborn babies

Symptoms

Diagnosis

1. Complete medical history and physical examination
2. Liver function Test
3. Test to detect hepatitis virus by blood test.
4. In chronic cases- liver biopsies

Treatment

In most countries a patient with a positive test result will be referred to a specialist who will carry out further tests to determine the degree to which hepatitis B may be affecting the liver, and what may be the best treatment options.

In the majority of patients with active HBV, symptoms will not be severe and treatment will not be required. The patient will be monitored and after a few months the patient's immune system should fight off the virus, giving the patient natural immunity.

Medication is given as treatment to those with chronic symptoms to help prevent further liver damage.
Immunization is also given to prevent it.

Homeopathy can heal Hepatitis B completely.

Hepatitis C
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by direct contact with an infected person's blood. However, infection with HCV can lead to chronic liver disease and is the leading reason for liver transplant.
The hepatitis C virus can be spread by:

• sharing drug needles
• getting a tattoo or body piercing with unsterilized tools
• blood transfusions
• transmission from mother to newborn
• sexual contact (although this is less common)

Symptoms

Many people do not experience any symptoms when they become infected with hepatitis C. Symptoms may emerge later, taking anywhere between 15 and 150 days to develop. Occasionally a person will not develop any symptoms and their immune system will successfully clear the virus without their knowledge. An infected person without symptoms can still act as a carrier and pass the virus on to others. When symptoms do appear they are similar to those of hepatitis A.

Diagnosis

A doctor can diagnose hepatitis C by carrying out blood tests that detect HCV antibodies in the blood.

Treatment