Inflammation caused by hepatitis B or C may become chronic and lead to long-term liver damage and other complications. Temporary inflammation is part of this response. But if inflammation persists for months or years, it can damage or even destroy liver cells. Liver damage can prevent the body from processing essential nutrients and from ridding the body of toxins. Without treatment, viral hepatitis can lead to scarring of the liver, also called cirrhosis, which interferes with liver function.
Untreated hepatitis B or C can also lead to liver cancer. Hepatitis A, B, and C are each caused by a specific type of hepatitis virus. All of these viruses are contagious. Hepatitis A can be spread through contaminated food, water, or personal contact with an infected person. Hepatitis B and C spread through contact with bodily fluids such as blood or semen.
These viruses can affect people of any age, including newborn babies if the mother passes the virus to her child during birth. Each type of hepatitis has distinct characteristics, and your doctor makes important decisions about treatment based on the type of virus affecting you. Hepatitis A is inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus.
Symptoms may not appear for weeks after infection, and some people have no symptoms at all. This disease can be spread from one person to another even before symptoms develop and up to one week after symptoms are evident.
Some people make a full recovery either with or without treatment. However, for others, hepatitis will be a lifelong condition.
If a person with alcoholic hepatitis stops consuming alcohol for 6—12 months , they may start to recover within a few years. Preventive measures are the most effective way of avoiding viral hepatitis. A person can lower the chances of contracting hepatitis by drinking only clean or treated water and maintaining hand and personal hygiene by washing regularly. When traveling to an area where hepatitis is common, people should avoid raw seafood and shellfish and only consume fruits or vegetables that are cooked or peeled.
A person with an autoimmune disease should undergo testing for autoimmune hepatitis early on so that they can begin a long-term treatment plan if necessary. There are different types of hepatitis, including viral and noninfectious forms. The symptoms of hepatitis are often mild, but complications may be severe if the person does not receive treatment.
Cases of hepatitis in the U. However, the disease is still prevalent and can have severe consequences without treatment. Hepatitis C is a virus that affects the liver.
It can be acute or chronic. Here, learn how hepatitis C spreads, the symptoms, and how to prevent…. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are both infections that cause inflammation of the liver. While they have similar symptoms, they also have a few key…. Learn about the hepatitis C antibody test, which is used to detect when someone has had the hepatitis C virus. What do the results mean? Learn about the relationship between baby boomers and hepatitis C, and why people born between and should be tested for the disease.
Here, we take a look at how long the hepatitis C virus can survive outside the body and how this affects the chances of transmission. View the changes to our visitor policy ». View information for Guest Services ». Access your health information from any device with MyHealth. You can message your clinic, view lab results, schedule an appointment, and pay your bill. There are six main types of the hepatitis virus that have been identified, including the following:. Share on Facebook. Notice: Users may be experiencing issues with displaying some pages on stanfordhealthcare.
Hepatitis G is a newly discovered form of liver inflammation. Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver. It can occur due to various reasons, including drug use, exposure to toxins, alcohol consumption, and certain autoimmune diseases.
However, the most common cause of hepatitis is a viral infection. In this article, we discuss in detail different types of hepatitis, treatment options, and outlook. Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable liver infection that occurs due to the hepatitis A virus. Transmission occurs through contact with fecal matter, which can happen as a result of consuming contaminated food or water, not washing the hands, or engaging in anal sex. Due to underreporting, however, the CDC estimates the actual number of cases was approximately 24, Hepatitis A is a short-term infection and usually resolves within 2 months.
Unlike other viral types of the condition, hepatitis A does not lead to chronic liver disease. Learn more about hepatitis A here. There are two types of hepatitis B: acute, or short-term, and chronic, or long-term. Chronic hepatitis B can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Hepatitis B transmits when blood, semen, or other bodily fluid from a person with HBV enters the body of someone who does not have it. According to the CDC, an estimated million people around the world have hepatitis B. In the U. For many, HBV is an acute infection that resolves on its own. However, people with chronic hepatitis B may require ongoing medical evaluation and frequent ultrasound scans of the liver.
Learn more about hepatitis B here. The condition can be either acute or chronic. Without treatment, acute hepatitis can form into chronic hepatitis C, which can lead to liver damage and liver cancer. In , there were 50, estimated cases of hepatitis C in the U. A person can develop hepatitis C through blood-to-blood contact.
For transmission to occur, blood containing HCV must enter the body of an individual who does not have the virus. Acute hepatitis C may resolve on its own. However, healthcare professionals recommend treatment for everyone with acute or chronic hepatitis C. Treatment involves 8—12 weeks of oral therapy. Learn more about hepatitis C here.
0コメント