Introduction
Liver is a very important body organ that diligently performs the functions of breaking down fats, filtering alcohol and other toxins in your blood, recycling blood cells and many other important tasks.1 What's more, one liver condition is a significant concern - Hepatitis!
Did you know that globally, 300 million people are living with viral Hepatitis unaware, and hepatitis has caused 1.34 million deaths2? Most of these individuals need access to life-saving testing and treatment. As a consequence, millions of people are at risk of a slow progression to chronic liver disease, cancer, and death.
What Is Hepatitis and Its Types?
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver, which is your body's largest internal organ. Think of inflammation as swelling that happens when your body's tissues get injured or infected, just like when you sprain your ankle and it swells up. When your liver becomes inflamed, it can't do its important jobs properly, which may harm your health.
Your liver works hard every day to keep you healthy. It filters harmful substances from your blood, helps digest food, stores vitamins, and makes proteins that help your blood clot when you get cut. When hepatitis causes liver inflammation, these vital functions get disrupted.
There are five main types of hepatitis viruses: A, B, C, D, and E. Each virus spreads differently, causes different levels of illness, and affects people in different parts of the world.
Hepatitis A is usually a temporary infection that clears by itself. In contrast, hepatitis types B, C, and D have a greater possibility of developing into long-term (chronic) infections, lasting years. Hepatitis E is typically a self-limiting disease with the potential of being especially harmful to pregnant mothers. Specifically, types B and C lead to prolonged illness in hundreds of millions of individuals and, collectively, are the most common cause of liver cirrhosis (where the liver does not function properly due to long-term damage), cancer and viral hepatitis-related deaths.
Although the overall mortality rate from hepatitis is soaring, new infections of HBV are declining, due to improved coverage of vaccination among children. Some types of Hepatitis are preventable through vaccination. In several cases, mild signs or no symptoms can be detected. However, each form of the virus can cause more severe symptoms.
Hepatitis Type | How It Spreads | Acute or Chronic | Vaccine Available3 |
Hepatitis A | Contaminated food, water, or close contact | Acute only | Yes |
Hepatitis B | Blood, body fluids, sexual contact, mother to baby | Both acute and chronic | Yes |
Hepatitis C | Blood-to-blood contact (sharing needles, medical equipment) | Mostly chronic | No |
Hepatitis D | Blood and body fluids (only with Hepatitis B) | Both acute and chronic | No (but Hepatitis B vaccine prevents it) |
Hepatitis E | Contaminated water and food | Acute only | Limited availability |
Signs and Symptoms of Hepatitis:
Fatigue
Sudden nausea or vomiting
Abdominal pain or discomfort
Loss of appetite
Dark urine
Joint pain
Intense itching
Change in skin colour - yellowish (jaundice)
Diarrhoea
The symptoms of hepatitis can be similar to those of other illnesses and may not always be clear. It’s important to see a doctor immediately if you notice any of the above signs. Prompt examination and testing can ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.
How Is Hepatitis Diagnosed?
The process of hepatitis diagnosis normally takes several steps: First of all, your doctor will ask about your symptoms, and they will also conduct a physical examination. Blood tests are then performed to determine the type of hepatitis virus infection and examine your liver functionality. In other instances, further investigations, including ultrasound (sonogram) tests, CT scans, or liver biopsy, might be required to determine liver damage.
To support faster and more convenient screening, Meril offers hepatitis rapid test kits for Hepatitis B and C:
MERISCREEN HBsAg – a test to detect Hepatitis B, delivering results within 20 minutes
Tredro HCV – a 3-dot rapid test using flow-through technology to detect antibodies for Hepatitis C (Anti-HCV)
These rapid testing solutions provide healthcare providers with quick and reliable screening tools to identify hepatitis infections early, enabling faster diagnosis and treatment decisions for patients.
How Hepatitis Spreads and Progresses
Transmission varies by type: Some hepatitis viruses spread through contaminated food or water, while Hepatitis B travels through blood and body fluids, and Hepatitis C spreads through blood contact alone.
Your liver's natural defence: In many cases, your liver can fight off the infection on its own and you'll recover completely. However, some types can develop into chronic (long-term) infections that cause ongoing health problems over the years.
Prevention and Treatment Options
Hepatitis A: There is a safe and effective vaccine available. The infections are mostly mild, and individuals who recover develop lifelong immunity to any future hepatitis A infection.4
Hepatitis B: There is a safe vaccination that also protects against hepatitis D. The immunisation is particularly important for newborns to prevent mother-to-child transmission.4
Hepatitis C: A vaccine is not available; however, antiviral medications can successfully treat over 95% of people with hepatitis C.4
Hepatitis E: There is a vaccine, but it is not yet widely accessible in most countries.4
Early detection through testing and vaccination where available are your best defenses against hepatitis. If you're at risk or experiencing symptoms, consult your healthcare provider about testing and prevention options.4
