Health

Hepatitis and the Liver

Share

Following my last article on hepatitis, I realized that little is known about the liver. The essence of this article is to emphasize the importance of the liver and why everyone should take the vaccine to prevent hepatitis.

The liver is located in the right upper area of your abdomen. It performs many critical functions that affect metabolism throughout your body, including:

  • Bile production, which is essential to digestion.
  • Filtering of toxins from your body
  • Excretion of bilirubin (a product of broken-down red blood cells), cholesterol, hormones, and drugs
  • Breakdown of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins
  • Activation of enzymes, which are specialized proteins that are essential to body functions
  • Storage of glycogen (a form of sugar), minerals, and vitamins (A, D, E, and K)
  • Synthesis of blood proteins, such as albumin
  • Synthesis of clotting factors

The 5 types of viral hepatitis

Viral infections of the liver that are classified as hepatitis include hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. A different virus is responsible for each type of virally transmitted hepatitis.

Hepatitis A is always an acute, short-term disease, while hep B, C, and D are most likely to be ongoing and chronic. Hep E is usually acute but can be particularly dangerous in pregnant women.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is caused by HAV. This type of hepatitis is commonly transmitted by consuming food or water contaminated by feces from a person infected with hepatitis A.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is transmitted through contact with infectious body fluids, such as blood, vaginal secretions, or semen, containing the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Injection drug use, having sex with an infected partner, or sharing razors with an infected person increases your risk of getting hepatitis B.

Hepatitis C

It comes from HCV. Hepatitis C is transmitted through direct contact with infected body fluids, typically through injected drug use and sexual contact.

Hepatitis D

It is also called delta hepatitis. Hepatitis D is a serious liver disease caused by HDV. It is contracted through direct contact with infected blood. Hepatitis D is a rare form of hepatitis that only occurs in conjunction with hepatitis B infection. The HDV can’t multiply without the presence of hepatitis B.

Hepatitis E

Hepatitis E is a waterborne disease caused by HEV. It is mainly found in areas with poor sanitation and typically results from ingesting fecal matter that contaminates the water supply.

If you have the infectious forms of hepatitis that are chronic, like hepatitis B and C, you may not have symptoms in the beginning. Symptoms may not occur until the damage affects the liver.

Common Symptoms Of Hepatitis

Signs and symptoms of acute hepatitis appear quickly. They include:

  • Fatigue
  • Flu-like symptoms
  • Dark urine
  • Pale stool
  • Abdominal pain
  • Loss of appetite
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Yellow skin and eyes (which may also be signs of jaundice)

Chronic hepatitis develops slowly, so these signs and symptoms may be too subtle to notice.

Diagnosis of Hepatitis

History and physical exam

To diagnose hepatitis, first, your doctor will take your history to determine any risk factors you may have for infectious hepatitis, followed by the doctor’s examination

Liver function tests

Liver function tests use blood samples to determine how efficiently your liver works. Abnormal results of these tests may be the first indication that there is a problem, especially if you don’t show any signs on a physical examination of liver disease. High liver enzyme levels indicate that your liver needs to be checked

Other blood tests

Complications 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 of:

  • Chronic liver disease
  • Cirrhosis
  • Liver cancer

When your liver stops functioning normally, liver failure can occur.

People with chronic hepatitis B and C are encouraged to avoid alcohol because it can accelerate liver disease and failure. 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.