What is Hepatitis?,emerging of hepatitis,symptoms of hepatitis,types of hepatitis.

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Origin of the Hepatitis
What is Hepatitis and how it emerges?
What are the symptoms of hepatitis?
How to treat Hepatitis?

Part and Parcel of Liver and its functioning

It is interesting to reveal that liver is not only the largest gland of the body but also the largest internal organ and weighs about 1.3 kg or 3 lb. The color of liver is reddish brown. The organ is divided into four lobes that are of varying length and size. A liver is made up of thousands of lobules where each and every lobule is comprised of a number of hepatic cells. Hepatic cells are the prime metabolic cells that exist in the liver.

In the thoracic region of the abdomen, liver situates below the hepatic artery in the right side. Blood via passage of hepatic artery and portal vein reaches to the liver. From aorta, the hepatic artery brings oxygenated blood where the portal vein is responsible for bringing the blood enriched with digested food.
Liver is responsible for fulfilling a number of duties. Some of its functions are mentioned below:

The filtration of harmful material from the blood such as alcohol - the procedure is known as detoxification.
The storage of minerals and vitamins such as B12, K, D and A.
The synthesis of protein is also a significant feature. It also makes amino acids, the complex building blocks of proteins.
The production of bio-chemicals such as bile that is vital for digestion.
The maintenance of required level of glucose in the blood.
80 per cent cholesterol of the body is produced by liver.
It not only converts glucose into glycogen but also stores glycogen.
It decomposes red blood cells.
Liver also synthesis plasma protein.
Hormones are also formed in liver.
The main substance of urine, that is urea, is produced in the liver.

Origin of the Hepatitis

The word hepatitis belongs to the ancient Greek vocabulary. It came from the word hepar – root hepat – that means liver where itis is from Latin and refers to inflammation. Thus teh word hepatitis refers to a condition of human body in which liver is injured along with inflammation of the liver cells.

What is Hepatitis and how it emerges?

Hepatitis as already explained is the inflammation of the liver that can be healed at its own without any worth pondering consequences. In certain cases the disease can lead to scarring of the liver. Chronic hepatitis can last for very long time where acute hepatitis stays not more than six months.
Hepatitis is an ailment that is produced by the virus. There are a number of hepatitis viruses that can make one a patient however most of the time liver is damaged by the hepatitis virus A, hepatitis virus B and hepatitis virus C. However hepatitis is not bound to emerge through virus only. It has been seen that the inhalation of toxic material such as alcohol and certain other infections also lead to the liver inflammation where auto-immune process (the attack of body at its own self) can also trigger hepatitis.
It is estimated that about 250 million people around the globe suffer from hepatitis C where about 300 million people are considered to be the carriers of hepatitis B.

Non-Infectious Hepatitis: All types of liver inflammation are not bad. The hepatitis caused by alcohol or other toxic material, medication or chemicals is bad for liver and inflames it. Any immune related injury, a metabolic disorder and a genetic problem can result in hepatitis. Liver damage caused as a result of obesity can result in hepatitis. All these types of hepatitis are called non-infectious as they are bound to stay in the body of only one person and could not transfer from one person to another.
Infectious Hepatitis

There are five mainstream types of infectious hepatitis (the hepatitis that can infect from one person to another) that are respectively caused by hepatitis virus A, hepatitis virus B, hepatitis virus C, hepatitis virus D and hepatitis virus E where hepatitis virus X and hepatitis virus G also lead to hepatitis.

Hepatitis A: It is caused by water or food infected with the virus HAV (hepatitis A Virus). Whether oral or anal contact during sexual intercourse can also lead to the infection. The virus does not lead to chronic disease and almost everyone infected with HAV recovers.
Hepatitis B: It is a sexually transmitted disease and is caused by HBV (Hepatitis B Virus). The virus is acquired by contact with any body fluid such as infected blood or semen.
Liver of the infected person swells with HBV. Severe damage to the liver caused by the virus can result in liver cancer. Some patients of hepatitis B gets chronic, remains infected throughout their lives or for very long time. Donated blood must be tested for hepatitis before injecting into a patient. Hepatitis B is acquired by:

Unprotected sex, without using condom, with the affectee or by the use of a syringe that was already used by the infected patient (it usually happens in the case of drug addicts who exchange syringes and people who inject steroids).
In case someone pricked in an accident or pierce his or her skin while making tattoos the virus enters the body if the needle or the surface is not sterilized. All those people who serve in health care projects are at risk of getting infected as a result of any accident. The exchange of toothbrush or razor can also spread the HBV.
Milk of the infected mother can affect the baby.
Bite of Hepatitis B patient can result in transferring HBV.

Hepatitis C: It is caused by the direct contact with the blood of infected person. It is caused by HCV (Hepatitis C Virus) that swells the liver and damages it afterwards. About 20 per cent of hepatitis C patients get cirrhosis where all those people who acquire cirrhosis are at risk of developing liver cancer. Donated blood must be tested for HCV.
Hepatitis D: HDV (Hepatitis D Virus) affects only that person who is already suffering from HBV. Unprotect sexual intercourse, infected blood, and perforation of the skin are once again the causes. Swelling strikes to the liver of hepatitis D patient.
Hepatitis E: Water that contains HEV (Hepatitis E Virus) can infect the drinker. Swelling in the liver occur but without any serious consequences. Anal or oral sex is also considered to be a reason for the infection.
Hepatitis X: Any infection that is not coming under teh category of any of teh above viruses are name hepatitis X. Simply narrating it is teh inflammation caused by an undiscovered or unknown virus.
Hepatitis G: Hepatitis caused by HGV (Hepatitis G Virus) is hepatitis G. Casually there are no signs or symptoms. In case there are symptoms then they are very mild.

What are the symptoms of hepatitis?
It is not necessary that the patient of hepatitis reflect any kind of symptoms. There may be signs or may not be. The feces of an infectious person are always harmful for the normal people. When 15 to 180 days pass on the infected person, symptoms usually start to appear.

Symptoms of Acute Phase of Hepatitis

The initial phase of hepatitis is called acute phase of hepatitis. The symptoms of acute phase of hepatitis are:

Flu
Diarrhea
Loss of appetite
Fatigue
Mild fever
Nausea
Joint or muscle ache
Vomiting
Weight loss
Abdominal pain

The acute is commonly not considered to be dangerous unless or until it turns into fulminant. The progression of acute phase can even lead to death.

Symptoms of Progressed Phase of Hepatitis

With the condition of patient getting worse with time below mentioned symptoms may appear:

Dark urine
Problems in circulation (especially toxic/drug induced hepatitis)
Drowsiness
Dizziness
In alcoholic hepatitis enlarged spleen is witnesses
Hives
Headache
Itchy skin
The yellowish color of eyes, skin and tongue
Feces with pus and of light color

How to treat Hepatitis?

The treatment of a hepatitis patient depends on not only the phase of infection but also on the type of hepatitis he or she is suffering from. Each type is treated in a different way.

Hepatitis A: Usually doctors do not suggest any kind of treatment for hepatitis A as the infection gets better with the passage of time at its own. The only advice made the doctor is to abstain from drugs or alcohol so the infection may be stopped from spreading.
Hepatitis B: The patient of hepatitis B is in dire need of rest. Diet enriched with carbohydrates and protein is required by the patient. This will help in not only repairing the liver cells but also in protecting the liver. Interferon – an antiviral agent - may be suggested by the doctor.
Hepatitis C: Pegylated interferon and ribavirin is prescribed to the patient of hepatitis C.
Hepatitis D or E: Unfortunately there is no treatment that can currently help in preventing the infections caused by HDV and HEV.
Non-Viral Hepatitis: In case hepatitis is caused by something other than the virus then doctors usually remove the harmful substance. By the help of induced vomiting or by hyperventilation the material is flushed out of the stomach. Corticosteroids are suggested to the patients whose hepatitis is induced by drug.