What is Hepatitis?

What is this disease? Hepatitis is a serious disease that affects the liver. Hepatitis is simply an inflammation of the liver, the main cause of which is a viral infection. There are chances of liver cancer and liver failure in this disease. Apart from this, people suffering from this disease do not go to the doctor immediately because they are unaware of it. According to the ‘World Health Organization (WHO)’, more than 32 crore people worldwide are battling Hepatitis-B and C. The disease is usually spread through contaminated food and water and the use of infected items. There are five types of hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. If this disease is properly diagnosed and treated, the patient’s life can be saved. In the initial stage of this disease, there are no symptoms but it is known only after it has spread completely. If not treated early, the condition becomes serious and can lead to complete liver damage.

Risk for Children

As the immune system is lower in children than in adults, cases of hepatitis are more common in them. Hepatitis-A and Hepatitis-E infections are especially common among children. Pregnant women are particularly advised to be vaccinated along with hepatitis-B screening. Infants should also be vaccinated after delivery. Hepatitis-E is more dangerous during pregnancy, which can cause liver failure. To prevent this, drink boiled water, wash hands with soap before eating and avoid eating outside during pregnancy.

Hepatitis symptoms

There are 5 types of hepatitis: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis D, and Hepatitis E. The symptoms of all hepatitis types states below.

Hepatitis-A

Hepatitis A Spread in the body through contaminated food and water. It causes swelling of the liver, loss of appetite, fever, and vomiting. Apart from this, there is a pain in the joints.

Hepatitis-B

Hepatitis B symptoms, It is spread through infected blood, needles, or unprotected sex. Due to the effect on the liver, the patient experiences vomiting, fatigue, and abdominal pain. Skin color turns yellow. It takes the form of liver cirrhosis and cancer. If a pregnant woman gets this disease, the baby can also get infected.

Hepatitis-C

Hepatitis C can be spread through tattooing on the body as well as through contaminated blood transfusions, sharing infected needles, or sharing someone else’s shaving kit.

Hepatitis-D

Hepatitis D is spread by transfusion of contaminated blood, sharing infected needles, or others’ shaving kits. It causes vomiting and mild fever due to liver infection.

Hepatitis-E

Hepatitis E  virus is spread through contaminated food. Affected patients experience fatigue, weight loss, yellow skin, and mild fever. The symptoms of this disease are usually abdominal pain, vomiting, yellowing of eyes and skin, excessive yellow color of urine, excessive fatigue, stool color different from normal, and loss of appetite.

As soon as such symptoms appear, see a hepatologist and get checked. What kind of food can be taken? Consume green vegetables, papaya, cucumber, salad, coconut water, tomatoes, grapes, brown rice, raisins, and almonds in your diet. Wash green vegetables well and then use them.