DEFINITION

• Hepatitis is simply defined as inflammation of the liver.
• There are different causes which depend on the strain of hepatitis.
• According to WHO, there are five main strain of hepatitis virus. Which are which are referred to as type A, B, C, D and E.
• Though they all cause liver disease, they have some differences which include modes of transmission, how severe the illness is, geographical distribution and method of prevention.
• Types B and C lead to chronic disease in hundreds of millions of people and together are the most common cause of liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and viral hepatitis-related deaths. An estimated 354 million people worldwide live with hepatitis B or C, and for most, testing and treatment remain beyond reach.(WHO)

How are they contracted?

• Hepatitis B is primarily spread when blood, semen, or certain other body fluids- even in microscopic amounts – from a person infected with the hepatitis B virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. The hepatitis B virus can also be transmitted from:
• Birth to an infected mother
• Sex with an infected person
• Sharing equipment that has been contaminated with blood from an infected person, such as needles, syringes, and even medical equipment, such as glucose monitors
• Sharing personal items such as toothbrushes or razors
• Poor infection control has resulted in outbreaks in health care facilities(CDC)
• Hepatitis C is spread when blood from a person infected with the Hepatitis C virus – even in microscopic amounts – enters the body of someone who is not infected. The hepatitis C virus can also be transmitted from: Sharing equipment that has been contaminated with blood from an infected person, such as needles and syringes
• Receiving a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992 (when widespread screening virtually eliminated hepatitis C from the blood supply)
• Poor infection control has resulted in outbreaks in health care facilities
• Birth to an infected mother(CDC)

How can it be prevented?     

• Proper personal and environmental hygiene.
• By not sharing personal items such as toothbrush and razors.
• Stopping the sharing of contaminated equipment.
• Getting tested and vaccinated if Negative. If positive, follow the treatment guideline to prevent complication.
• However, there is currently no vaccine available for hepatitis C.

Symptoms

• Many people infected with acute hepatitis show no symptoms. For those that show symptoms, they can appear from 2 weeks to 6 months after being infected.
•  Chronic hepatitis symptoms may include fever, malaise, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, nausea, abdominal discomfort, dark-coloured urine and jaundice (a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes).
• In some cases, the virus can also cause a chronic liver infection that can later develop into cirrhosis (a scarring of the liver) or liver cancer. These patients are at risk of death.

How is it diagnosed?

• Hepatitis is diagnosed by drawing a small blood sample and testing it for hepatitis antigen and/or antibody.
• When someone test positive, he will be subjected to further test.
• Hepatitis B has three antigen which are surface, core and e antigen. They produce similar antibodies.
• Three main test for hepatitis are  
  • hepatitis B surface antigen test, which determines whether a person currently has the infection. 
  • Hepatitis B core antibody test, which determines whether a person has ever been infected.
  • Hepatitis B surface antibody test, which determines whether a person has cleared the virus after infection, or has been vaccinated and is now immune to future infections. 

Treatment

• The aim of treatment is to slow the progression of cirrhosis, reduce incidence of liver cancer and improve long term survival. However, only a proportion of people with chronic hepatitis B infection will require treatment.
• There are no specific treatments for HBV and hospitalization is not usually required. Regular monitoring of liver disease progression is done, while some are treated with antiviral drugs.
• It is advised to avoid unnecessary medications due to the negative effect on liver function caused by these infections.
• Hepatitis C (HCV) can cause both acute and chronic infection. Some people recover on their own, while others develop a life-threatening infection or further complications, including cirrhosis or cancer.
•  Antiviral medicines can cure more than 95% of persons with hepatitis C infection, thereby reducing the risk of death from cirrhosis and liver cancer.
• Current treatment takes between 8 to 12 weeks of oral pills.