Hepatitis
Why in News?
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported that while efforts to eliminate hepatitis are delivering gains, more urgent action is required to meet the global 2030 elimination targets.
Basic Information
- Definition: Hepatitis is the medical term for inflammation of the liver tissue, disrupting vital bodily tasks like filtering toxins and storing vitamins.
- Acute vs. Chronic: It is labelled acute if the infection resolves within six months and chronic if it triggers long-term, permanent liver scarring.
- Non-Viral Causes: Beyond infections, the condition can be sparked by heavy alcohol use, toxic drugs, industrial chemicals, or autoimmune disorders where the body attacks its own liver cells.
The Five Types of Viral Hepatitis
| Type | Main Transmission Route | Severity & Nature | Prevention / Treatment |
| Hepatitis A (HAV) | Contaminated food and water | Generally acute and mild | Safe preventative vaccine available |
| Hepatitis B (HBV) | Blood, semen, bodily fluids | Can become a chronic lifelong illness | Highly effective vaccine |
| Hepatitis C (HCV) | Direct blood-to-blood contact | Highly prone to cause chronic disease | No vaccine; cured by oral antivirals |
| Hepatitis D (HDV) | Blood (Only occurs alongside HBV) | Severe acceleration of liver cancer | Prevented indirectly via HBV vaccine |
| Hepatitis E (HEV) | Contaminated drinking water | Mostly acute; high risk for pregnant women | Hygiene focus; limited vaccine availability |
Common Symptoms & Complications
- Jaundice: Yellow discoloration affecting the skin and whites of the eyes.
- Excretion Changes: Production of dark-coloured urine and unusually pale or clay-coloured stools.
- Systemic Fatigue: Persistent, overwhelming tiredness and low bodily energy.
- Digestive Distress: Intense nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.
- Silent Progress: Many individuals display no visible symptoms for years, leaving them unaware of damage until liver failure manifests.
- Cirrhosis: Extensive permanent scarring that gradually stops the liver from functioning.
- Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Chronic strains heavily increase individual risk for aggressive liver cancer.
- Acute Liver Failure: Rapid degradation of liver function requiring immediate intensive therapy or a transplant.
