Hepatitis A, B, D, C

Hepatitis is a group of diseases that cause inflammation of the liver. There are several types of hepatitis, each caused by a different virus. In this article we will look at hepatitis A, B, D and C.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is an acute infectious disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. This virus belongs to the picornaviruses and contains RNA. The incubation period lasts about 25-30 days, and the route of transmission is fecal-oral. The reservoir of infection is a sick person, and infection occurs by drinking contaminated water or food.

Hepatitis A usually begins as an acute respiratory illness accompanied by a runny nose, loss of appetite and sometimes nausea. From the 3-5th day of illness, jaundice occurs, manifested by icteric discoloration of the skin and sclera, itching, colorless feces and dark urine. The liver is enlarged from the onset of the disease, painful, and sometimes the spleen is enlarged. Jaundice lasts 10-15 days, after which the symptoms of hepatitis A gradually disappear. Severe forms of hepatitis A are rare, and chronicity is not observed. In 50-80% of cases, hepatitis A occurs in an anicteric form.

To diagnose hepatitis A, the detection of antibodies to the hepatitis A virus in the blood, as well as an increase in the level of transaminases, is used.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a parenteral infectious disease caused by the hepatitis B virus. This virus contains DNA and is resistant in the external environment and to disinfectants. The incubation period is up to 180 days. Infection occurs through blood transfusion, the use of poorly sterilized instruments (syringes, needles, scalpels), sexual contact and in utero. Newborns become infected while passing through the birth canal.

The onset of the disease is milder than that of hepatitis A, but its course is more severe and prolonged. Malignant fulminant forms are observed, mainly in children of the first year of life, leading to liver dystrophy. Asymptomatic and anicteric forms of the disease are common. In its early phases, arthralgia and rash are sometimes observed. Patients with hepatitis B often become chronic carriers of the infection. The disease often becomes chronic with the risk of developing liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

To diagnose hepatitis B, the detection of antigens and antibodies to the hepatitis B virus in the blood, as well as an increase in the level of transaminases, is used.

Hepatitis D

Hepatitis D, or delta hepatitis, is caused by the hepatitis D virus, which cannot cause the disease on its own, but can cause acute and chronic hepatitis only if the hepatitis B virus is present in the body. The infectious route of transmission of hepatitis D is the same as that of hepatitis B.

The symptoms of hepatitis D are similar to those of hepatitis B, but the disease is more severe and more often becomes chronic. Treatment of hepatitis D is limited to treatment of hepatitis B, but the effectiveness of such treatment is limited.

To diagnose hepatitis D, the detection of antibodies to the hepatitis D virus in the blood, as well as an increase in the level of transaminases, is used.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a parenteral infectious disease caused by the hepatitis C virus. This virus contains RNA and is stable in the external environment. The incubation period ranges from 2 weeks to 6 months. Infection occurs through blood transfusion, the use of poorly sterilized instruments (syringes, needles, scalpels), sexual contact and in utero. Newborns become infected while passing through the birth canal.

Symptoms of hepatitis C may be minimal or absent altogether, so the disease is often detected in a chronic form. Some patients may experience fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, and jaundice. Hepatitis C is one of the main causes of chronic liver failure, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

To diagnose hepatitis C, the detection of antibodies and RNA of the hepatitis C virus in the blood, as well as an increase in the level of transaminases, is used. Treatment for hepatitis C includes antiviral therapy, which can completely cure the patient of the infection.