Viral hepatitis: concept, classification and summary

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viral hepatitis are diseases caused by virus that affect the liver. There are different types of hepatitis, some being transmitted orally-fecally and others through contact with blood contaminated, unprotected sexual intercourse and from mother to baby. Hepatitis B, C and D can develop into the chronic form, being responsible, in these cases, for triggering complications such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Personal hygiene and use of condom are two important ways to prevent viral hepatitis.

Read more: Sexually Transmitted Diseases - What They Are and Some Examples

Summary on viral hepatitis

  • viral hepatitis are infections that affect the liver.

  • Most of the time, hepatitis does not cause symptoms, being considered silent infections.

  • Yellowish skin and eyes, dark urine and pale stools are some of the symptoms that can arise in case of hepatitis.

  • Hepatitis A and hepatitis E have faecal-oral transmission.

  • Hepatitis B, C and D can be transmitted through unprotected sexual contact, sharing objects and from mother to baby.

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  • Hepatitis C has treatment that can lead to a cure.

  • Hepatitis A and E do not have specific treatment.

  • Hepatitis B and C have treatments that aim to prevent severe liver damage.

Viral hepatitis concept

viral hepatitis are infections caused by viruses that affect the liver. These infections can promote mild to severe changes. The disease is usually silent, showing no symptoms in the early stages.

You Hepatitis-causing viruses are named using the letters of the alphabet., being the viruses that cause the disease called the hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis D virus (HDV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV). Other viruses can trigger the disease, however, their epidemiological impact is less.

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Classification of viral hepatitis

Viral hepatitis can be classified into:

  • Hepatitis A: it is caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), which is transmitted fecal-orally. Thus, habits like wash hands often, sanitizing food well and not entering water environments where sewage is discharged can help prevent the disease. Symptoms of hepatitis A include fatigue, muscle pain, malaise, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, abdominal pain, dark urine and jaundice (yellow skin and eyes).

  • Hepatitis B: is triggered by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), which can be transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse, from mother to baby, through sharp objects and from blood transfusion. The disease starts as an acute infection, resolving spontaneously within six months, however, in other individuals, the infection remains, being considered, in this case, chronic. People with the chronic form of the disease can develop cirrhosis and liver cancer.

  • Hepatitis C: It is triggered by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which can be transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse, from mother to baby, through contact with contaminated blood, and through blood transfusion. In about 80% of people with the disease, no symptoms are observed. The disease can manifest itself acutely or chronically. The chronic form is the most common and evolves silently, possibly causing cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Man showing his eye yellowed due to jaundice.
Jaundice is one of the symptoms of hepatitis.
  • Hepatitis D: is triggered by the hepatitis D virus (HDV), which can be transmitted through intercourse. unprotected sexual intercourse, from mother to baby, through blood transfusion and through materials sharps. The hepatitis D virus depends on the presence of the hepatitis B virus to cause infection, which may occur simultaneous co-infection with HBV or HDV superinfection in people with chronic infection triggered by HBV. Hepatitis D may have no symptoms or cause symptoms such as dizziness, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, jaundice, dark urine, and light stools.

  • Hepatitis E: it is triggered by the hepatitis E virus (HEV), which is transmitted mainly via the fecal-oral route. The virus is responsible for triggering acute, self-limited and short-lived hepatitis. More severe cases are seen in pregnant women and people with immunodeficiency. The disease can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, malaise, fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation, dark urine and jaundice.

Read more: Diseases caused by viruses - usually cause fever, headache and body pain, poor appetite and malaise

Transmission of viral hepatitis

Not all viral hepatitis is transmitted in the same way. Depending on the virus analyzed, we will have different forms of transmission. The transmission of hepatitis A and hepatitis E occurs via the fecal-oral route, and is therefore related to personal hygiene and the availability of sanitation. Hepatitis B, C and D, in turn, can be transmitted from mother to baby, through contaminated sharp objects, through sex and blood transfusion.

Symptoms of viral hepatitis

Viral hepatitis can cause different conditions. In some cases, the person may introduce themselves asymptomatic or with mild symptoms. In others, however, the typical symptoms of hepatitis may appear, which include fever, jaundice (yellow skin and eyes) and choluria (dark urine). Hepatitis B, C and D can cause the development of chronic forms, which favors the development of cirrhosis and liver cancer. The disease in its chronic phase is usually observed when the person already has major liver involvement.

Know more: Hepatic encephalopathy - a neuropsychiatric problem that has cirrhosis as one of its causes

Treatment of viral hepatitis

Treatment of viral hepatitis to dependá the type of hepatitis the patient has. Hepatitis A and E do not have specific treatments. Hepatitis B, C and D are treated. In the case of hepatitis B and D, the treatment is not aimed at curing the disease, being carried out mainly to avoid major liver damage. Hepatitis C, in turn, has a high cure rate, and treatment with antivirals is responsible for a cure in about 95% of cases.

Prevention of viral hepatitis

condoms
The use of condoms is important to prevent against some types of viral hepatitis.

Viral hepatitis is a group of diseases, which has a varied form of transmission. Thus, there are different ways to protect yourself from viral hepatitis, which include:

  • Do not share personal items such as nail pliers, razor blades and toothbrushes.

  • Observe, when getting a tattoo or piercing, that the location complies with safety regulations.

  • Do not share needles and syringes.

  • Use a condom in all sexual relations.

  • Get vaccinated against hepatitis for which vaccination is available (hepatitis A and B).

  • Always wash your hands.

  • Sanitize foods well, especially those that will be eaten raw.

  • Only drink treated water.

By Vanessa Sardinha dos Santos
Biology teacher

Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:

SANTOS, Vanessa Sardinha dos. "Viral hepatitis"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/doencas/hepatites-virais.htm. Accessed on July 27, 2021.

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