A healthy liver means a healthy you
Umair Shafiq Khanday
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. There are about 325 million people in the world, who are living with viral hepatitis, yet up to 290 million of these are unaware of their situation, which can lead to liver complications later.
Understand your liver health better with a Liver Function Test. It also helps in the screening for active infections and inflammation.
When to suspect Hepatitis?
In many patients there are no symptoms and hepatitis can go undiagnosed. In some people, it can cause the following:
Yellowing of skin and eyes
Fever
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Nausea and vomiting
Abdominal pain
Headaches
General malaise
Diarrhea…
Viral hepatitis: A Matter of Concern Although hepatitis can occur due to a range of factors, viral hepatitis (liver inflammation caused by a viral infection) is a major health burden in India. Viral hepatitis can be of five types depending upon which type of virus has caused the disease. Of these, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C are the common types of viral hepatitis.
Hepatitis A can spread through food or water. Food can be tainted when it’s touched by a person with hepatitis and hasn’t washed his hands thoroughly after using the bathroom. Raw and undercooked foods are common culprits in hepatitis A outbreaks.
Your body can clear off the Hepatitis A virus on its own with right care.
Hepatitis Bbon the other hand can spread through contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person. It is possible to get Hepatitis B by unprotected sex, sharing infected needles, razors or toothbrushes. Hepatitis B does not spread by hugging, sharing food, or coughing.
Filter out the possibility of Hepatitis B now with the Hepatitis B (Surface) Antibody Test.
Hepatitis C is spread through contact with blood from an infected person. person. Sharing needles, getting a tattoo or body piercing with an infected needle can lead to an exposure. Multiple sex partners or HIV too are responsible for the risk and spread of Hepatitis C.
If you are facing any liver woes that you doubt may be due to a Hepatitis C infection.
Hepatitis C is known to be a common cause of acute hepatitis in the elderly; after 20-30 years of being affected about half of them develop chronic hepatitis, and of those a significant number develop cirrhosis (20-60%). Hence, it is wise to watch out for the symptoms and go for regular liver screening tests. Additionally, hepatitis can be diagnosed in the laboratory by the following tests:
• Complete blood count
• Liver function test
• Hepatitis B & C antigen.
How to prevent it?
You can easily prevent hepatitis by following these precautions:
• Wash hands thoroughly after using the washroom and before having a meal
• Always drink clean water
. During blood transfusions, ensure that blood or any other blood component is being screened for Hepatitis B and C beforehand.
• Do not share needles, syringes, razor blades, and other personal items.
• Make sure that you are engaging in safe sex.
• Get hepatitis screening profile test done regularly.
(The author is pursuing BSc Nursing at Udaipur in Rajasthan)
KV Network
