Hepatitis- What is it and how to prevent yourself?-by Dr Vishal Khurana Senior Gastroenterologist



HEPATITIS (inflammation of liver) - act now as hepatitis can’t wait

On this World hepatitis day (28 July 2021), Dr Vishal Khurana senior gastroenterologist from Faridabad is telling us about hepatitis. This year’s theme is “Hepatitis can’t wait”, conveying the urgency of efforts needed to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. Even in current covid scenario a person is dying every 30 seconds from a hepatitis related illness in world.


What is hepatitis?

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can causes acute as well chronic infection, jaundice, severe liver disease, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. There are many causes of inflammation of the liver, including viral infection, excessive alcohol intake, side-effects of medication, disorders of the gall bladder or pancreas, and other infections. Viral hepatitis is inflammation of the liver caused by any hepatitis virus: hepatitis A, B, C, D and E. Hepatitis A and E are usually acute self limiting disease. Hepatitis B and C can persist for months to years inside a person without causing symptoms. 


How hepatitis infection manifest?

Acute hepatitis can present with symptoms like fever, bodyache, tiredness, weakness, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, decrease appetite, dark color urine or yellow color eyes (jaundice). In advanced disease person present with jaundice, abdominal distension, blood vomiting, black or red color stool, altered sensorium, decrease appetite, weight loss, etc.


How does viral hepatitis spread? 

Hepatitis A and E usually spreads when a person consumes food or fluid contaminated by the stool of a hepatitis A and E-infected person (even though it may look clean). Some common routes for hepatitis A and E transmission include: household contact with an infected person and eating or consuming contaminated water, food, fruit or juices

Hepatitis B and C can spread when blood from an infected person enters the body of a person who is not infected. Hepatitis B and C transmission can also occur through contact with other bodily fluids, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids. Some modes of transmission include: having sex with an infected person without using a condom, by sharing needle, having a tattoo or body-piercing done with tools that are contaminated through being used on someone else, by sharing objects that may have a very tiny amount of blood on them, such as a toothbrush, razor, or tools used for manicures and from an hepatitis b infected mother to her baby during birth.The hepatitis B virus is 50 to 100 times more infectious than HIV. 


How to prevent yourself from getting infected?

Hepatitis A and E can be prevented by ensuring your food and water is clean, washing your hand thoroughly and taking hepatitis A vaccine. Hepatitis B can be prevented by hepatitis B vaccine. Hepatitis B and C can be prevented by using sterile needles, getting yourself tested, avoid contact with blood, avoid tattooing or body piercing from authorised reputed shops and having safe protected sex. hepatitis C is a curable disease


Tips to prevent liver damage if you are infected:

  • Eat a balanced diet including fruits, vegetable and whole grains
  • Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated
  • Avoid alcohol, tobacco, saturated fat, stress, skipping meals and self medication
  • Take small frequent meals


Many person infected with hepatitis B and C are without symptoms hence it is important that everyone should be aware about hepatitis, get yourself tested and treated on time so that we can eliminate hepatitis. 






DR VISHAL KHURANA
MBBS, MD (Medicine), DM (Medical Gastroenterology), MNAMS
Senior Consultant- Gastroenterology

Faridabad

Mobile: 07289840710

 


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