World Hepatitis Day 2024: Types, causes, symptoms of hepatitis

Moneycontrol News | July 26, 2024

There are several types of hepatitis, including A, B, C, D, and E, each with different transmission methods and severity levels. Their symptoms range from mild, such as fatigue and nausea, to severe, like jaundice and abdominal pain

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Hepatitis A Cause: Caused by consuming contaminated food or water Symptoms: Fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, fever, and jaundice. Usually appear 2-6 weeks after exposure

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Hepatitis B Cause: Spread through infectious body fluids, like blood, semen, or vaginal fluids. Symptoms: Dark urine, joint/abdomen pain, jaundice, and chronic fatigue. They develop 1-6 months after exposure

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Hepatitis C Cause: Often spread via sharing needles, transfusions Symptoms: Asymptomatic, but can include fatigue, jaundice, and dark urine. They may not appear until years after exposure

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Hepatitis D Cause: Occurs only in those infected with Hepatitis B, as it relies on B virus to grow Symptoms: Similar to Hepatitis B, including jaundice, abdominal pain, and fatigue. More severe than Hepatitis B alone

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Hepatitis E Cause: Spread through contaminated water Symptoms: Includes fever, fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, and jaundice. They appear 2-9 weeks after exposure

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Autoimmune hepatitis Cause: Immune system attacks liver cells. Symptoms: Can include jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, and joint pain. Symptoms vary widely and may develop slowly

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Early detection: Many forms of hepatitis may not show symptoms in their early stages. Regular check-ups and blood tests are crucial for early diagnosis, especially if you're at risk

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Diagnostic tests: Blood tests can detect the presence of hepatitis viruses, liver function tests can assess liver damage, and imaging studies may be used to visualise liver health

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