Viral Hepatitis (HAV)

What is Viral Hepatitis? Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Drugs, alcohol, chemicals, and autoimmune diseases are some causes and condition that cause the liver to inflame. Viral hepatitis are usually referring to hepatitis caused by specific viruses that primarily attac s the liver. !hey have been named types A,",#,D,$, % (not confirmed) and &. !he most common hepatitis virus are types A," and #.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A 'as referred to as (infectious hepatitis) *nfection 'ith hepatitis A. Virus can be spread through the ingestion of food or 'ater, especially 'here unsanitary conditions allo' 'ater or food to become contaminated by human 'aste containing hepatitis A (the fecal+oral mode of transition). !ypically is spread among household members or contacts through the passage of oral secretions (intimate for issing) or stool (poor hand 'ashing)

Hepatitis " (H"V)

*t is no' no'n that hepatitis " can spread by se,ual contact, the transfer of blood or serum through shared needles in drug abusers, accidental needle stic s 'ith needles contaminated 'ith infected blood, blood transfusions, hemodialysis, and by infected mother-s to their ne'borns. !ype " hepatitis 'as at one time referred to as (serum hepatitis)

!hey also can be spread by tattooing, body piercing, and sharing ra.ors and toothbrushes (if there is contamination 'ith infected blood) /atients 'ith hepatitis " infection also are the ris of developing cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer.

Hepatitis # (H#V)
!ype # hepatitis 'as previously referred to as ( non+A, non+" hepatitis. !he hepatitis # virus (H#V) usually is spread by shared needles among drug abusers, blood transfusion, hemodialysis, and needles stic s. /atients 'ith chronic hepatitis # infection can continue to infect others.

Hepatitis D (HDV)

Also no'n as the delta virus or agent. *t is a small virus that re0uires concomitant infection 'ith hepatitis " to survive. HDV cannot survive on its o'n because it re0uires a protein that the hepatitis " ma es (the envelope protein, also called surface antigen) to enable it to infect liver cells. !he 'ays in 'hich hepatitis D is spread are by shared needles among drug abusers, contaminated blood, and by se,ual contact, especially the same 'ays as for hepatitis ".

Who is at ris for viral hepatitis?

Wor ers in the healthcare professions. /eople 'ith multiple se,ual partners. *ntravenous drug users. Hemophiliacs 'ho receive blood clotting factors.

What are the symptoms and signs of viral hepatitis?

1any patients infected 'ith hepatitis A," and # have no symptoms of illness. %or those 'ho do develop symptoms of viral hepatitis, the most common are flu+li e symptoms including2 loss of appetite nausea vomiting fever 'ea ness tiredness aching in the abdomen

3ess common symptoms includes

dar urine light+colored stools fever 4aundice (a yello' appearance to the s in and 'hite portions to the eyes)

What is prognosis of viral hepatitis?

!he prognosis of viral hepatitis for most patients is good. 5ymptoms of viral hepatitis such as2 fatigue poor appetite nausea And 4aundice usually subside in several months, 'ithout any specific treatment. complete recovery from viral hepatitis means the hepatitis virus has been completely eliminated from the liver by the body-s immune system. !he inflammation in the liver subsides.

the patients develops immunity to future infection 'ith the same virus the patient cannot transmit the infection to others.

unfortunately, not all patients 'ith viral hepatitis infections recover completely. %ive percent of patients 'ith acute hepatitis " infection and 678 of patients 'ith acute hepatitis # infection develop chronic hepatitis. Acute viral hepatitis needs no specific treatment. /atients 'ho develops chronic infection have chronic viral hepatitis and often need treatment to prevent further liver damage.

Ho' is viral hepatitis diagnosed?

Diagnosis of viral hepatitis is based on symptoms, and physical findings as 'ell as blood test for liver en.ymes, viral antibodies, and viral genetic materials.

5ymptoms and physical findings

Diagnosis of acute viral hepatitis often is easy, but diagnosis of chronic hepatitis can be difficult. When the patients reports symptoms of fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, dar ening of urine, and then develops 4aundice.

"lood !est
there are three types of blood test for evaluating patients 'ith hepatitis. liver en.ymes antibodies to the hepatitis viruses viral proteins or generic material (viral D9A or :9A).

Ho' is viral hepatitis treated?

Acute hepatitis !reatment of acute viral hepatitis involves relieving symptoms and maintaining ade0uate inta e of fluids. #hronic hepatitis !reatment of chronic viral hepatitis involves medications to eradicate the virus and ta ing measures to prevent further liver damage.

1edications for chronic hepatitis # *n4ectable interferon ;ral ribavirin

1edication for chronic hepatitis "

*n4ectable interferon ;ral lamivudine ($pivir) ;ral adefovir (Hepsera) ;ral entecavir ("araclude)

!reatment of chronic hepatitis can be comple, because<..

!he diagnosis of chronic viral hepatitis may not be straightfor'ard. 5ometimes a liver biopsy may have to be performed for confirmation of liver damaged. Doctors e,perienced in managing chronic liver diseases must 'eight the ris of liver biopsy against the potential benefits of the biopsy.

9ot all patients 'ith chronic viral hepatitis are candidates for treatment. 5ome patients need no treatment (since some patients 'ith chronic hepatitis " and # do not develop progressive liver damage or liver cancer. 1edications for chronic infection 'ith hepatitis " and # are not al'ays effective. /rolong treatment (=months to years) often is necessary. $ven 'ith prolong treatment, rates of successful treatment (define as complete and lasting eradication of the virus) often are lo' (usually less than 678 and often around >78).

 5ome of the medications such as interferon and revavirin can have serious side effects. And doses may have to be reduced. !here are several different strains of hepatitis # viruses 'ith differing susceptibilities to medications. %or e,ample, hepatitis # type ? is more li ely to respond to interferon in4ections and rebavirin type @. #ertain hepatitis " strains are resistant to lamivudine but respond to adefovir or entecavir.

Ho' is viral hepatitis prevented?

Avoidance if e,posure to viruses Ase of immunoglobulin Vaccination

Viral Hepatitis At A &lance

1any illnesses and condition can cause inflammation of the liver (hepatitis). Viruses that primarily attac the liver are called hepatitis viruses. !here are several types of hepatitis viruses including types A, ", #, D, $, % (not yet confirmed), and &. !ypes A, ", and # are the most common.

 !hose

at ris for viral hepatitis include 'or ers in the health care profession, people 'ith multiple se,ual partners, intravenous drug abusers, and hemophiliacs. "lood transfusion is a rare cause of viral hepatitis. All hepatitis viruses can cause acute hepatitis. Viral hepatitis types " and # can cause chronic hepatitis.

5ymptoms of acute viral hepatitis include fatigue, flu+ li e symptoms, dar urine, light+colored stools, fever, and 4aundice. :arely, acute viral hepatitis causes fulminant hepatic failure. !he symptoms of chronic viral hepatitis often are mild and nonspecific, and the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis often is delayed.

#hronic viral hepatitis often re0uires treatment in order to prevent progressive liver damage, cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. Hepatitis infections can be prevented by avoiding e,posure to viruses, in4ectable immunoglobulin or vaccines.