Hepatitis: Signs, Diagnosis, And Treatment

Hepatitis- Related to an inflammatory condition of the liver. It occurs mainly due to infection caused by viruses but there are other possible causes as well. Hepatitis can be temporary or viral. Temporary hepatitis, which is acute in nature, gets resolved on its own. Viral hepatitis can be of five types, A, B, C, D, and E.

Symptoms Of Hepatitis

Hepatitis, in its initial phase, is called the acute phase. The following symptoms along with mild flu are visible:

• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue
• Joint pains
• Pain in the abdomen
• Nausea
• Weight loss
• Jaundice

How is hepatitis diagnosed?

• Physical examination
• Laboratory tests
• Imaging tests

Treatment Options for Hepatitis- A, B, C, D, and E

Treatment options for different types of hepatitis are:

Hepatitis A: This doesn’t require treatment as it is short-term in nature. In case the symptoms cause a lot of discomforts, then bed rest is recommended. The vaccine is available to prevent this infection.

Hepatitis B: Acute Hepatitis B doesn’t require treatment either. Its chronic form can be treated with antiviral medications. This can be prevented with vaccination.

Hepatitis C: This type of hepatitis, both in its acute and chronic forms, is treated through antiviral medications.

Hepatitis D: According to a study in 2013, a drug known as alpha interferon is used to treat this type of hepatitis. Unfortunately, this only comes to the rescue of 25-30% of people.

Hepatitis E: This acute form of hepatitis gets resolved on its own. Adequate rest, drinking a sufficient amount of water, and taking enough nutrients in their food are some of the ways to get healed from this disease.