How to Identify Types of Hepatitis
Instructions
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Know the symptoms of hepatitis A (or HAV). This is a contagious liver infection caused by hepatitis A virus. It is transmitted when one is in contact with food and water contaminated with fecal matter. Symptoms of hepatitis A include general malaise, nausea and vomiting, pain on the upper right side of the abdomen, poor appetite and weight loss, muscle pain, low grade fever, pruritus or skin itching, dark-colored urine, diarrhea (mostly among children) and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and sclera or white area of the eyes). Hepatitis A symptoms usually develop 2 to 6 weeks after being infected by the virus. It usually occurs abruptly and can be mistaken for gastroenteritis or intestinal flu. The only way to confirm the presence of hepatitis A virus is through a blood test. Permanent damage to the liver is very unlikely, although some cases can become fatal especially when it involves weak and older individuals. Once the person had been infected with hepatitis A, they become immune to the virus. They don't have to worry about suffering from it again.
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Be familiar about hepatitis B (or HBV). This is another infectious liver disease that can be transmitted through contact with the body fluids or blood of an infected person such as intercourse and from infected needles. Its symptoms include overall fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, pain on the upper right area of the abdomen, dark brown urine, pain in the joints, and jaundice. Manifestations of symptoms usually take place 12 weeks after being infected with the virus. If this type of hepatitis develops into a chronic stage, it will lead to extent disruption of the normal structure and functions of the liver, cancer of the liver, or even death. Individuals who had recovered from hepatitis B usually develops immunity over the virus from then on.
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Protect yourself from having hepatitis C (HCV). This type of hepatitis is primarily transmitted when in contact with an infected blood. In many cases, people infected with hepatitis C virus do not manifest any symptoms at all--not until liver damage sets in several years later. Some of its early symptoms are slight fever, pain in the muscles and joints, nausea, loss of appetite, and tenderness on the upper right area of the abdomen. Several years later when liver damage takes place, the following symptoms are manifested overall fatigue, nausea and vomiting, low-grade fever, loss of appetite, jaundice that recurs and persists. About a small percent of patients with hepatitis C can be cleared from the disease with in 6 months; but this does not mean that they are immune from it. Individuals who have persistent and chronic hepatitis C will carry the virus for as long as they live and will remain infectious to other people.
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Try to observe if you have the signs of hepatitis D (HDV). This hepatitis virus is otherwise known as the delta virus. It can't reproduce and show its harmful effects without the existence of hepatitis B virus. In other words, this hepatitis D only causes symptoms only to people infected with hepatitis B--usually to those under the chronic stage. Its transmission is the same as that of hepatits B virus (through blood and bodily fluids). Early symptoms of hepatitis D are tiredness, joint pain, nausea, loss of appetite, slight fever, and pain on the upper right area of the abdomen. Yellowing of the skin and sclera of the eyes (jaundice) will appear as its later symptom. Patients who suffer from acute episodes of hepatitis B and D can recover in time. For those with chronic hepatitis D infection, cirrhosis or scarring of the liver may develop.
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Take extra precautions with food and water while traveling to avoid hepatitis E (HEV). This type of hepatitis is transmitted the same way as hepatitis A--through food and water contaminated by fecal matter of an infected individual. Once hepatitis E virus invades your system, it may take of about 2 weeks to 2 months before its symptoms occur; which include low-grade fever, fatigue, muscle pain, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite and reduced weight, pain on the upper right area of the abdomen, pale-colored stool, and dark urine. Jaundice usually takes place after other symptoms disappear, although weight loss still persists.
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Learn more about the most currently discovered hepatitis virus--the hepatitis G (HGV). Otherwise known as hepatitis GB virus, this can be transmitted through blood. Patients with blood conditions who require constant blood transfusions, can be vulnerable for this disease. Kidney patients who are into long-term dialysis are also susceptible for hepatitis G. Infection from hepatitis G is often mild and short-lasting. There is no proof yet if hepatitis G will cause serious complications but there is a possibility that like hepatitis C, it can lead to liver damage in severe cases.
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Avoid taking harmful drugs to prevent toxic hepatitis. This is a type of liver inflammation that's induced by drugs. Its symptoms are headache, nausea and vomiting, anorexia, enlargement of the liver, itchy skin and rashes, fever, sore muscles, jaundice, dark urine, and clay-colored stools. Toxicity often occurs after several months of taking certain drugs or from an overdose of medications that contain acetaminophen such as pain killers and antipyretics or fever-reducing drugs. Drug-induced hepatitis usually affects women more than men, with older individuals more at higher risk than young ones. In most cases, toxic hepatitis often subsides within several days to weeks after discontinued use of causative agents.
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Limit your intake of alcohol, or better yet don't drink alcohol to avoid damaging your liver. The liver normally breaks down toxins from alcohol to eliminate it from your body. But with too much alcohol intake, the liver can't keep up with it and it can lead to its imbalance and destruction. Symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis are nausea and vomiting, poor appetite, pain and tenderness over the upper right part of the abdomen, low-grade fever, lightheadedness and confusion, ascites (accumulation of fluid into the liver), and jaundice. Inflammation of the liver can heal over time if the patient only has mild symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis. However, if the patient already develops cirrhosis or scarring of the liver, it will progress to liver failure over time.
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