Can Hepatitis be identified early?

Hepatitis is a condition in which there is inflammation of the liver and it is normally caused due to a viral infection. However, there are some other factors that can also lead to hepatitis which includes autoimmune hepatitis and hepatitis caused due to some medications, drugs, toxins and alcohol.

There are around 4.4 million individuals in America who are suffering from chronic hepatitis and there are many others who are not aware that they are suffering from this infection.

Hepatitis caused by viral infection of the liver can be classified into five types which are hepatitis A, B, C, D & E. From the five different types of hepatitis, hepatitis A is the milder form and C & D are the severe form of viral infection.

The treatment will depend on the type of hepatitis and the cause of the problem. One can prevent some types of hepatitis through immunization, certain lifestyle changes and precautions.

How does one get infected with hepatitis?

Hepatitis A:

This type of infection is caused when an individual consumes any form of food or water which has been contaminated by the faeces of an individual infected with hepatitis A.

Hepatitis B

This infection is caused when an individual comes in contact with body fluids like blood, saliva or semen of an infected person. Individuals who inject drugs, have unprotected sex or share razors are more at the risk of developing hepatitis B. 

Hepatitis C

This is also caused through direct contact with infected body fluids and is one of the most common blood-borne viral infections in America.

Hepatitis D

This is also known as delta hepatitis and is caused through open wounds and direct contact with blood of the infected individual.

Hepatitis E

This is a waterborne disease and is most common in locations where there is poor sanitation and is caused by consuming food or water which is contaminated.

What are the other factors causing hepatitis?

Alcohol

Excessive alcohol consumption by an individual can also cause hepatitis and it is also known as alcoholic hepatitis. The alcohol consumption damages the liver leads to swelling of the liver. Some of the other factors that can cause swelling of the liver are excessive use of medicines, drugs and exposure to toxins.

Autoimmune Disease

This occurs when the immune system begins to consider the liver to be a harmful object and starts attacking it. This hinders the normal functioning of the liver.