The World Health Organization (WHO) defines hepatitis as “inflammation of the liver caused by infections, toxic substances, for example alcohol, certain drugs or autoimmune diseases.”
To date, 5 types of this disease have been identified, known as hepatitis A, B, C, D and E, each with similar symptoms and all can be diagnosed by means of a blood test. Next, we will detail them so that you know how to identify, treat and prevent them.
Hepatitis A
It is considered one of the mildest hepatitis , its form of contagion is through contaminated feces, water or food, there are no precise statistics of its impact, since most cases are cured. Safe and effective vaccines are available to prevent infection.
Its symptoms include: yellowish skin and whites of the eye, fever, poor appetite, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dark urine and nausea. Those who show the greatest sign of the disease are adults, while in children the signs are very mild. However, there are easy laboratory tests to identify it and carry out the treatment that is nothing more than rest, not taking alcohol, paracetamol and after three months everything returns to normal.
Among the home remedies for this condition is the consumption of Artichoke that helps biliary function by stimulating the digestion of fats; beetroot that regenerates liver cells, as well as turmeric that detoxifies this organ when taking a daily infusion.
To prevent it, remember to wash your hands well after using the bathroom, wash food and avoid eating on the street.
Hepatitis B
With 240 million people with serious infections in the world and more than 680 thousand deaths annually, this is one of the types of hepatitis that has the greatest impact on the quality of life of the human being. Its form of contagion is through blood, sexual route and at the time of childbirth, from mother to child.
Like type A, it has a vaccine that protects against infection, but in the same way it continues to affect communities, becoming severe and producing cirrhosis and liver cancer. Its symptoms include: fatigue, abdominal pain, vomiting and the characteristic yellow color of the skin and eyes.
According to the WHO, between 80% and 90% of infants infected in the first year of life will suffer a chronic infection and with respect to adults between 20% and 30% of those who suffer from chronic infection will suffer cirrhosis and / or liver cancer.
Like hepatitis A, it does not have a treatment other than a good diet and rest. Its prevention is through the vaccine, avoiding having multiple sexual partners, not consuming drugs (mostly injectable) and not getting tattoos in unhealthy places.
Hepatitis C
Transmitted through blood, the WHO estimates that more than 130 million people have the disease, the most common form of transmission being infected injections and blood transfusions.
It is considered one of the most affecting the body, producing around 700 thousand deaths annually throughout the world, although with an antiviral treatment the recovery of the patient is very possible, these drugs are not very accessible to the population, added to the fact that to date there is no vaccine to prevent it.
One of its complications is that, in general, the person who suffers from it does not show signs of infection, only when it is already an acute condition does he manifest fever, fatigue, dark urine, joint pain, yellowing and loss of appetite, among others.
Hepatitis D
Its peculiarity is that it is suffered by those who carry the hepatitis B virus, injecting drug users, homosexuals and those who have a disease that requires blood transfusions, all of this increases the chances of contracting it.
Most of those who suffer it must have treatments for more than a year, seeing improvements after the first month. It can be avoided with a correct diagnosis of hepatitis B and with the necessary vaccines.
Hepatitis E
One of its aggravating factors is that it can be fulminant, especially in pregnant women, it is only transmitted fecally – orally through water (mainly), also through poorly washed foods or raw seafood. It does not present symptoms so it is rarely diagnosed, its complication being cirrhosis. In some cases the patient becomes anorexic, the liver increases its size, there is fever and abdominal pain.
Currently prevention is the best way to counteract it, since there is no treatment to follow. To avoid it, you should not consume ice of unknown origin, always wash your hands and have filters at home.
