Hepatitis (A, B and C) Symptoms, Causes and Prevention
by: Dr. Paul Chang, General Practitioner, Regis Medical
What is Hepatitis?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. Inflammation of the liver can affect your liver’s function. Hepatitis tends to be caused by a virus. This type of hepatitis is called viral hepatitis. The most common types of viral hepatitis are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. However, hepatitis can also be the result of alcohol abuse, toxins, certain medications or medical conditions.
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Different types of Hepatitis (A, B, C)
Hepatitis A is an acute condition with symptoms lasting up to 2 months. It typically does not cause any long-term infection and your liver heals in about 2 months.
Hepatitis B can be acute or chronic. Children are more at risk of developing chronic hepatitis B. If the hepatitis B infection becomes chronic, it can lead to serious health consequences cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Hepatitis C can be acute or chronic. For approximately half of the people infected, hepatitis C can develop into a long-term, chronic liver infection that can cause serious liver damage, possibly leading to life-threatening health problems such as cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Symptoms of a Hepatitis Infection
The three types of hepatitis share common symptoms such as:
- Jaundice
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Stomach aches
- Diarrhoea
- Joint pain
- Dark-coloured urine
- Light-coloured bowel movements
It is ideal to visit a trusted healthcare provider if you experience the above symptoms so that you can get tested. However, hepatitis does not always come with symptoms. For many infected with the virus, they experience mild or no symptoms. For those experiencing chronic hepatitis, they may only experience symptoms as a sign of advanced liver disease.
Causes and Risk Factors of Hepatitis
Causes
Hepatitis A, B, and C can be transmitted differently.
Hepatitis A is usually transmitted through the faecal-oral route. It can be spread by:
- Having sex with someone who has the virus
- Taking care of someone who has the virus
Hepatitis B is transmitted via contact with the blood or bodily fluids of some with the virus. It can be spread by:
- Having sex with someone who has the virus
- Sharing of needles for injections
- Childbirth, if the mother has the virus
- Direct contact with the blood or open sores of a hepatitis B carrier
- Sharing of personal items such as razors, toothbrushes, or nail clippers
Hepatitis C is transmitted by blood or bodily fluids that contain blood. It can be spread by:
- Sharing of needles for injections
- Childbirth, if the mother has the virus
- Having sex with someone who has the virus
- Sharing of personal items such as razors, toothbrushes, or nail clippers
- Receiving donated blood, blood products, or organs prior to the 1990s
- Having a piercing or tattoo with equipment that had not been properly sterilised
Risk Factors
The risk factors for hepatitis A, B and C may differ slightly.
Risk factors of hepatitis A include:
- Travelling to countries where hepatitis A is common
- Men who have sex with men
- Usage of injectable or non-injectable drugs
- Being a caregiver of a hepatitis A carrier
Risk factors of hepatitis B include:
- Having a sexual partner who has hepatitis B
- Men who have sex with men
- Infants born to a mother with hepatitis B
- Usage of injectable drugs
- Those with an increased risk for occupational exposure to hepatitis B
- Those undergoing dialysis
Risk factors of hepatitis C include:
- Usage of injectable drugs
- Having HIV
- Infants born to a mother with hepatitis C
- Those with an increased risk for occupational exposure to hepatitis C
- Those undergoing dialysis
- People who have received a blood transfusion or an organ transplant prior to 1992
- People who have received clotting factors before 1987
If you are at a higher risk for hepatitis, it is ideal to get screened for the viral infection to protect yourself and others.
Complications of Hepatitis
Hepatitis can sometimes lead to severe health complications, especially if it is chronic. Common complications of hepatitis include:
- Fibrosis. This is caused by liver scarring, where the liver is damaged by constant inflammation, triggering the production of scar tissue to repair itself. However, the scar tissue created reduces liver function.
- Cirrhosis. This is a severe, later stage of fibrosis. Cirrhosis-related scarring tends to be irreversible and can even require a liver transplant in severe cases.
- Liver cancer. Liver cancer may develop as a complication of cirrhosis.
- Liver failure. Liver failure happens when the liver can no longer function sufficiently as a result of severe liver damage. This can be fatal.
- Hepatic Encephalopathy. A brain disorder that develops in patients with liver disease. This happens when your liver is unable to work properly, causing toxins to build up the blood. These toxins can affect your brain function.
- Portal Hypertension. This refers to elevated pressures in the portal venous system, which is a major vein leading to the liver. Liver-related problems such as cirrhosis can interfere with blood circulation in the portal venous system. This is a severe condition that can be fatal.
- Viral Coinfection. Having hepatitis may increase your vulnerability to other viral infections. While it does not directly cause another viral infection, it makes it harder for your immune system to fight off the second infection. For example, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a common coinfection for those with hepatitis.
Diagnosing Hepatitis
To diagnose hepatitis, a doctor will usually perform a physical examination to check for symptoms of viral hepatitis. For example, pressing gently against your abdomen to check for swelling or tenderness of your liver, or examining your eyes and skin the check for signs of jaundice.
A blood test will also be conducted to check for viral infection, as well as to evaluate liver function.
Should you be diagnosed with hepatitis A, B, or C after you blood test, your doctor may recommend imaging tests, such as an ultrasound, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Computerised Tomography (CT) scan, to assess liver damage. A liver biopsy may also be recommended.
Supportive Methods for Hepatitis
Hepatitis A is an acute condition and usually goes away on without causing any serious, lasting health complications. Hepatitis A is usually treated using supportive methods. These include:
- Rest
- Sufficient hydration
- Eating healthily
- Hospital Admission to monitor daily liver function until normalisation
If needed, medication can be prescribed to help alleviate symptoms of hepatitis A, such as fevers and aches.
Acute hepatitis B can be treated using supportive methods. In the case of chronic hepatitis B, it can be treated with antiviral drugs, including Entecavir, Tenofovir alafenamide and Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate.
Acute and chronic hepatitis C can be treated using antiviral drugs. Antiviral therapy for hepatitis C will usually include 8 to 12 weeks of oral medication. Example of antiviral drugs that may be prescribed include:
- Daclatasvir
- Elbasvir/Grazoprevir
- Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir
Preventing Hepatitis
There are preventive steps that you can take to protect yourself from viral hepatitis, including:
- Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccine
- Using a condom during sexual intercourse
- Not sharing injection equipment such as needles
- Practicing good personal hygiene
- Not sharing personal items
- Take precautions when getting tattoos or piercings
- Ensure that you are vaccinated when travelling to areas in the world where viral hepatitis is common or areas with poor sanitation
- Avoid eating raw/uncooked food where sanitary hygiene is a concern and where Hepatitis A is endemic
Living with Hepatitis
If you have chronic hepatitis B or C, you will need to seek treatment. Left untreated, these chronic infections can lead to severe liver damage or even liver cancer. Getting treatment can help to prevent further damage to your liver. In addition, effective treatment can slow down or stop the virus from spreading. In the case of chronic hepatitis C, it can even be cured with effective treatment. Regular check-ups and tests may be necessary to monitor your liver function. Like any other chronic illness, if managed effectively, it is possible to live a long, full life.
Consult a Doctor Regarding Your Condition
If you have not been diagnosed with viral hepatitis, but experience symptoms or suspect that you may have been infected, you should consult a trusted healthcare provider. If you are diagnosed with viral hepatitis, especially if the infection is chronic, you will need to consult a specialist.
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