An estimate 257 million people are living with chronic hepatitis B worldwide out of which 213,300 are in Australia.
Therefore, it is important to understand the disease, its causes and cure in order to eliminate the chances of contracting the disease.
talked to Dr Tejinder Singh from Adelaide to get a better understanding of this condition.
According to Dr Singh, hepatitis is inflammation of the liver that can be caused by many things like excessive consumption of alcohol, drugs, viruses or other toxins. Viral hepatitis is the one resulting from infection of the liver by hepatitis A, B, C, D or E viruses. Out of these, hepatitis A, B and C are most common. All these viruses can have similar symptoms but differ in modes of transmission and long-term effects on health.
Hepatitis A
Dr Tejinder Singh GP Adelaide Source: Supplied
Source: Getty images
Hepatitis A is a short term liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. Worldwide, an estimated 1.4 million cases of hepatitis A occur each year. Hepatitis A infection does not cause chronic liver disease and is rarely fatal, but the symptoms can be debilitating.
Causes:
The hepatitis A virus is spread when an uninfected (and unvaccinated) person consumes food or water that is contaminated with the faeces of an infected person. Regions with poor sanitation and unsafe drinking water are more likely to experience hepatitis A epidemics.
Holding a glass of contaminated water Source: iStockphoto
Hepatitis A can also be transmitted through close physical contact with an infectious person, although casual contact among people does not spread the virus.
People who have been infected by hepatitis A become immune to the virus.
Hepatitis A can sometimes lead to fulminant hepatitis (acute liver failure), which can lead to death.
In Australia, there were 144 diagnosed cases of hepatitis A in 2011.
Hepatitis A symptoms include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, aching joints and pains, jaundice and general weakness.
- fever;
- weakness;
- fatigue;
- loss of appetite;
- nausea;
- joint aches and pains;
- vomiting; and
- jaundice (yellowish eyes and skin, dark urine and pale-coloured faeces)
Not everyone will have all the symptoms. Most infected children under six do not have any symptoms.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis B infection can lead to long-term liver disease. Left unmanaged, it can result in cirrhosis or liver cancer. More than two billion people worldwide have been infected by hepatitis B and of these over 257 million are living with long-term (also known as chronic) hepatitis B. Globally, there are over 880,000 deaths per year from hepatitis B related causes.
In Australia, there are over 380 deaths each year from hepatitis B and recent research shows that more than 213,300 people are living with chronic hepatitis B
Causes:
Hepatitis B is transmitted when blood from a person with hepatitis B virus enters the bloodstream of a person with no Hepatitis immunity. It can also be transmitted vis the semen or vaginal fluid of an infected person.
Source: Pixabay
Hepatitis B is spread from;
- from mother to child at birth or in early childhood from family members and other close contacts
- through sharing drug injecting equipment
- through vaginal, anal or oral sex without a condom/dental dam
- through unsterile tattooing or piercing
other ways Hepatitis can spread is from;
- Blood-to-blood contact through open wounds
- Needle stick injuries
- Sharing personal items such as toothbrushes, razor blades or nail clippers
- Blood transfusions/products not screened for hepatitis B
- Unsterilized medical, tattooing, or other piercing equipment
It is important to note that Hepatitis does not spread through hugging or kissing someone, through tears or sneezes or sharing cups plates, clothes food, drinks or shower
Symptoms:
Initially after infection, some adults may experience fatigue, fever, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, bloating, indigestion, headaches, itching, joint or muscle pain and jaundice – a yellowing of the skin and eyes. However, many people don’t notice any symptoms at all and don’t know they have recently been infected. Children usually don’t experience any symptoms.
Hepatitis C
Nurse makes vaccination of patient in a clinic, horizontal Source: iStockphoto
Hepatitis C is transmitted via blood-to-bloodstream contact. Untreated, hepatitis C can lead to cirrhosis and serious liver disease. Effective treatments are available.
World-wide, there are an estimated 71 million people living with chronic hepatitis C - 233,000 of them in Australia.
The hepatitis C virus is transmitted by blood-to-bloodstream contact. Infection occurs when blood with hepatitis C virus gets into the bloodstream of another person. For example, in Australia, the most common ways of getting infected with Hepatitis C are;
- sharing injecting equipment.
- tattooing or body piercing with unsterilized equipment.
- non-sterile medical or dental injections or other procedures in countries of high incidence.
- receiving a blood transfusion before 1990 (from 1990 screening tests became available and all blood products in Australia are now screened for hepatitis C).
Hepatitis C is not classified as a STI. There is only a risk of transmission when there is potential for blood-to-bloodstream contact during sex.
Left unmanaged, hepatitis C can lead to scarring of the liver and serious liver disease.
Symptoms:
During the initial (acute) phase of infection a small number of people may experience flu-like symptoms. However, most people do not experience any symptoms for the first 10 years or more after their initial infection, which may go unnoticed.
Symptoms of long-term (chronic) infection can range from mild to severe and can occur continuously or in bouts. The most common symptoms of chronic hepatitis C infection are:
- fatigue or tiredness;
- lethargy;
- nausea and discomfort in the abdomen;
- feeling ill after consuming alcohol or fatty food; and
- depression
According to Dr Tejinder Singh, not many cases will show symptoms straight away and if anyone is concerned about their health, they should ask their GP for a blood test to find out.
Another thing to keep in mind is that people should always remember the causes for this disease. For example, Hepatitis A is cause by unhygienic food conditions and the rest are caused by exchange of bodily fluids or sharing needles etc. Therefore, those people who know they have not consumed excessive alcohol in their life, have had healthy eating habits, have not done drugs and their sexual behaviour has not been homosexual, they are highly unlikely to contract Hepatitis.
Test tube with blood for Hepatitis test in fron of researcher Source: iStockphoto
Although there may be some taboo attached with this disease in Indian community, yet Dr Tejinder Singh suggests that anyone who is concerned for their health should talk openly to his/her GP and get himself checked. GPs maintain complete confidentiality and their information will be kept safe.
According to Dr Singh, vaccination for Hepatitis A and B has been available for a long time. He suggests that everyone should get the vaccine as once you have that immunisation, you cannot contract this type of Hepatitis virus. Hepatitis A has two doses and Hepatitis B had three doses. Usually, immunisation lasts for a lifetime but it may wear off after ten years so getting a booster dose after ten years is important.
“The disease that can be prevented should be prevented – prevention is better than cure.” -Dr Singh
Information sourced from For more inforamtion on Hepatitis, you cab visit .
Also read
