The world hepatitis simply means inflammation of the liver. But unlike the meaning the disease is not simple but rather a serious one. Viral hepatitis is a major public health problem silently affecting millions of people globally and can lead to complications like cirrhosis and liver cancer. Among the different types of hepatitis, hepatitis B and C are particularly concerning and both can cause long term liver diseases. Both of them go unnoticed for years before the appearance of any symptoms.
In this blog we will go through symptoms, mode of spread, treatments and what measure can you take to protect yourself and your loved ones. If you are a healthcare professional, a medical student or a curious reader this blog will answer all your concerns.
The Global Burden of Hepatitis:
According to World Health Organization (WHO), hepatitis B and C are responsible for 1.1 million deaths every year. This figure is even more than HIV. In 2019, over 296 million people worldwide were living with chronic hepatitis B infection and about 58 million people were living with chronic hepatitis C infection. In many cases, these disease do no cause any symptoms for years and hence are called “Silent killers”.
Hepatitis B:
Hepatitis B is cause by hepatitis B virus (HBV). It can cause both acute (short term) and chronic (long term) liver infection. HBV is highly infectious, about 50 to 100 times more infectious than the dreadful HIV. HBV can also survive for 7 days outside the body.
How Does Hepatitis B Spread?
Hepatitis B spreads through contact with infected blood or other body fluids. Common routes of transfer of HBV are mother to child during childbirth, unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person, sharing needles or syringes, blood transfusions or medical procedures with unsterile equipment. Also remember that hepatitis is rare to transmit through casual contact, food, water or breast milk.
Hepatitis B Symptoms:
Most adults infected with HBV recover completely, but about 5 to 10 percent of adults and 90 percent of infants develop chronic hepatitis B.
Acute Hepatitis B Symptoms:
Patients with acute hepatitis B infection present with fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain in the right upper quadrant, yellowing of skin (jaundice) and yellowing of eyes (icterus), dark urine, pale stool and joint pain. Symptoms typically appears in the first 6 months after getting infected.
Hepatitis B treatment:
There is no specific cure for acute hepatitis B infection, most people recover with supportive care. In cases of chronic hepatitis B the goal of the treatment is to reduce the risk of liver damage and complications. Antiviral medication like tenofovir and entecavir can suppress the virus and lower the risk of cirrhosis and cancer. Liver health should be regularly monitored and imaging should be done to asses liver damage. Unfortunately chronic hepatitis B cannot be completely cured but with the use of medications the outcomes are greatly improved.
Prevention of Hepatitis B:
Hepatitis B can be prevented with the help of vaccination. The vaccine for hepatitis B is both safe and effective. It is part of childhood immunization in many countries. 3 doses are given over a time period of 6 months, which provides 95 percent protection. Any adult at risk for example health workers and partners of infected individuals should also get vaccinated. Other preventive measure include practicing safe sex, avoid sharing needles and syringes, ensuring the use of sterilized equipment in medicine and dental procedures.
Hepatitis C:
Hepatitis C is caused by Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) which also primarily affects the liver. However, unlike HBV there is no available vaccine for HCV. HCV infections are mostly chronic and is a leading cause of liver transplant in many countries.
How Does Hepatitis C spread?
Blood to blood contact is the main source of HCV spread. Some common ways include sharing needles and injections, blood transfusions, organ transplant, accidental injuries in healthcare settings, less commonly through sexual contact or from mother to baby during delivery. Keep in mind that hepatitis C is not spread through food, water or causal contact.
Hepatitis C Symptoms:
Acute hepatitis C is often asymptomatic but some patients may experience fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain and jaundice. Ever 3 out of 4 infected individuals suffer from chronic disease which can slowly damage the liver over decades leading to fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma).
Treatment of Hepatitis C:
Thanks to advancement in the field of medicine hepatitis C is now curable in most of the cases. Direct-acting antivirals are oral tabs prescribed for 8 to 12 weeks can cure over 95% of cases. People with liver damage needs to monitor the liver on regular basis even after getting cured.
Hepatitis C Prevention:
Since there is no vaccine available for HCV, avoiding exposure is the best step in preventing the disease. Make sure never to share needles or injections, ensure proper screening of blood products, and practice safe sex especially if you have multiple partners.
Diagnosis of Hepatitis B and C:
The diagnosis of Hepatitis B and C are done through blood tests. For HBV the goal is to detect HBsAg (antigens), antibodies or viral DNA. For Hepatitis C the goal is to detect anti-HCV antibodies and HCV RNA. People at risk should be screened as well even if the feel healthy.
Why Early Detection of Hepatitis B and C Matters?
If left untreated HBV and HCV can cause chronic infections leading to cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. According to CDC, individuals with hepatitis C infection are ten times more likely to have hepatocellular carcinoma that is why it is important to detect these diseases as early as possible to avoid serious complications.
Living with Hepatitis:
It surely is a tragic news to hear that one is suffering from hepatitis but it’s not the end of the world. With proper care many people with hepatitis B can live a healthy life. Similarly most people with hepatitis C can be cured and live a normal life. Some tips to live healthy are, avoid alcohol, eat balanced diet, maintain a healthy weight, and avoid unnecessary medications. For emotional support counselling groups can help a lot.
Takeaways:
If you are someone at risk test yourself for hepatitis.
Get vaccinated for hepatitis B.
Practice safe behaviors to prevent infection.
If diagnosed early treatment can help you avoid unnecessary complications.
References & Further Reading:
• World Health Organization. Hepatitis B. Fact sheet. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-b
• World Health Organization. Hepatitis C. Fact sheet. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-c
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Viral Hepatitis. https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis
• American Liver Foundation. Hepatitis B and C information. https://liverfoundation.org
Conclusion:
Hepatitis B and C are silent killers but they can be detected with the help blood tests. Both HBV and HCV are known to cause chronic infections leading to serious complications like liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatitis B and C have a significant impact on the global health affecting more than 296 million and 58 million people respectively. HBV is more infectious and fatal than the dreadful HIV.
Vaccines are available for HBV but there is no vaccine available for HCV so avoiding contact is the best preventive measure one can take. With the help of preventive measure and modern medicine we can easily cope with both HBV and HCV. If you liked this blog and want to know more about the human body go to my website Medrizz.com.
What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis simply means inflammation of the liver. It can be caused by viruses, alcohol, drugs, or autoimmune conditions. Viral hepatitis, particularly hepatitis B and C, are major global health threats due to their potential to cause long-term liver damage.
Why are hepatitis B and C called “silent diseases”?
Because they often do not cause symptoms for years. Many people live with hepatitis B or C without knowing they are infected until serious complications like cirrhosis or liver cancer develop.
Is hepatitis B more infectious than HIV?
Yes. Hepatitis B is 50 to 100 times more infectious than HIV and can survive outside the body for up to 7 days.
Is there a vaccine for hepatitis B?
Yes! The hepatitis B vaccine is safe, effective, and part of childhood immunization schedules in many countries.
Why is early detection important?
Early detection helps prevent serious outcomes like cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. Treatment is more effective before liver damage occurs.