Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. It is most commonly caused by the virus hepatovirus A, B, C, D, and E.
Hepatitis A and E are primarily transmitted through contaminated food and water. Hepatitis B is primarily transmitted through sexual contact, but it can also be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy or childbirth and spread through infected blood. Hepatitis C is commonly transmitted through infected blood, which can occur during intravenous drug users’ needle sharing. Hepatitis D can only infect people who have already had hepatitis B.
Hepatitis A, B, and D are preventable with immunization. Medications may be used to treat chronic viral hepatitis. Antiviral medications are recommended in all with chronic hepatitis C, except those with conditions that limit their life expectancy. There is no specific treatment for NASH; physical activity, a healthy diet, and weight loss are recommended. Autoimmune hepatitis may be treated with medications to suppress the immune system. A liver transplant may be an option in both acute and chronic liver failure.
Hepatitis B is a potentially fatal liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis B infection can become chronic in some people, meaning it lasts longer than six months. Chronic hepatitis B increases your chances of developing liver failure, cancer, or cirrhosis — a condition in which the liver scars permanently.
Hepatitis B is fairly common in Africa and the western Pacific region. Throughout the world, there are about 292 million people who are infected with chronic hepatitis B. In Nigeria, over 18 million people are infected. The number of infections in Africa is over 91 million. Infected women can pass the infection on to their babies. Children who are infected before age 5 are more likely to have chronic infection than those infected later in life.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of hepatitis B range from mild to severe. They usually appear about one to four months after you’ve been infected, although you could see them as early as two weeks post-infection. Some people, usually young children, may not have any symptoms.
Hepatitis B signs and symptoms may include:
When to see a doctor
If you know you’ve been exposed to hepatitis B, contact your doctor immediately. A preventive treatment may reduce your risk of infection if you receive the treatment within 24 hours of exposure to the virus.
If you think you have signs or symptoms of hepatitis B, contact your doctor.
Causes
Hepatitis B infection is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The virus is passed from person to person through blood, semen or other body fluids. It does not spread by sneezing or coughing.
Common ways that HBV can spread are:
Acute vs. chronic hepatitis B
Hepatitis B infection may be either short-lived (acute) or long lasting (chronic).
The younger you are when you get hepatitis B — particularly newborns or children younger than 5 — the higher your risk of the infection becoming chronic. Chronic infection may go undetected for decades until a person becomes seriously ill from liver disease.
Risk factors
Hepatitis B spreads through contact with blood, semen or other body fluids from an infected person. Your risk of hepatitis B infection increases if you:
Complications
Having a chronic HBV infection can lead to serious complications, such as:
Prevention
The hepatitis B vaccine is typically given as three or four injections over six months. You can’t get hepatitis B from the vaccine.
The hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for:
Take precautions to avoid HBV
Other ways to reduce your risk of HBV include: