Why in news: –
Millions of people living with chronic hepatitis B are unaware they have the virus.
- Hepatitis – It means inflammation of the liver.
- Heavy alcohol use, toxins, some medications, and certain medical conditions can cause hepatitis.
Types
- Viral hepatitis – Hepatitis A , B, C, D and E
- Non-viral hepatitis – Autoimmune hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis, and drug-induced hepatitis.
| Hepatitis | A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission | -Fecal -Oral -Contaminated Food/Water | -Blood to blood -Sex | -Blood to blood -Sex (less common) | -Blood to blood -Sex -Only occurs when HBV is present | -Fecal-Oral -Contaminated Food/Water |
| Chronic Infection | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Genotype 3 only |
| Prevention | -Pre-exposure vaccine | Pre-exposure vaccine | -Screening donor blood -Harm reduction | -Pre-exposure -vaccine | -Ensure safe drinking water, -Avoid undercooked pork & shellfish |
| Treatment | -Management of symptoms | -Treatment for management of chronic infection | Treatment/cure for chronic infection | -No approved treatments | -Management of symptoms |
- Hepatitis B – Caused by the hepatitis B virus.
- Types – The infection can be acute (short and severe) or chronic (long term).
- Transmission – Through contact with infected body fluids like blood, saliva, vaginal fluids and semen.
- From mother to child during birth, body fluids during sex with an infected partner, unsafe injections or exposures to sharp instruments.
- Symptoms – Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), dark urine, feeling very tired, nausea & vomiting, pain in the abdomen, etc.
- Prevention – There are vaccines to prevent hepatitis A and hepatitis B but there is no vaccine available for hepatitis C.
- Treatment – There is no specific treatment for acute hepatitis B.
- Chronic hepatitis B infection can be treated with oral medicines, including tenofovir or entecavir.
Hepatitis D, also known as “delta hepatitis,” only occurs in people who are also infected with the HBV.
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