What are the similarities and differences between hepatitis and its alphabet, A, B, C, D, E?

Several conditions can cause this liver inflammation, and there are ways to prevent it. therefore, nation Gastroenterologist Wagner Ramirez Quesada was contacted to learn about the different types, characteristics and symptoms of this disease.

The first question that might come to mind is why are there so many types of hepatitis? According to Ramírez, hepatitis is a non-specific term that simply refers to inflammation of the liver, which can occur for a variety of reasons. Hepatitis is best remembered as caused by viruses lettered A through E, known as hepatocellular viruses.

However, there are other causes, such as alcohol consumption, diseases such as cirrhosis, or some specific cases of fatty liver disease or medications.

Viral hepatitis has another classification because it can be acute or chronic. Ramirez explained that an acute infection is when a person is exposed to the virus, develops symptoms due to the infection and eventually recovers.

Chronic conditions, meanwhile, are conditions that last for more than six months and sometimes for life. These people, with appropriate treatment, can control the virus and not develop complications, although it can persist.

Hepatitis A

This is currently the most common and most common form of the disease in the country. Its manifestations are acute and rarely lead to chronic disease.

his way The route of transmission is fecal-oral transmission. It can be caused by contaminated food or water, lack of hygiene, or depending on sexual behavior, sexual contact can also spread the virus.

The incubation period (the time between infection and first symptoms) is 15 to 45 days. Initially, symptoms are very similar to other illnesses: general malaise, weakness, fatigue, body aches and headaches, and in some people diarrhea.

Likewise, jaundice, a yellowing of the skin, occurs in 80% of people; dark urine and white stools may also occur. Ramirez commented that this is all due to problems with the liver excreting bilirubin and (temporary) destruction of various liver tissues.

Typically, these symptoms last for 7 days while the immune system takes care of ending the infection. However, after this stage, the body may continue to shed the virus for up to 30 days, so it may infect others through the fecal-oral route if steps are not taken.

In about 5% of cases, these symptoms of the second stage of the disease last for more than a week. Ramirez said from what he’s seen in his office, several patients who have fallen ill this year have these characteristics.

In the strangest of cases, the disease stops in stages and comes back with a vengeance.

Finally, in most sporadic cases, it may lead to acute liver failure. This condition occurs in less than 1% of patients but may result in them needing a transplant. People with pre-existing liver disease or immune problems may be at greater risk.

The cases we are seeing now are prone to outbreaks because when a sick person arrives at work or home with the virus, improper hand or food washing can lead to multiple infections.

“One of the worst transmission vectors we have is a cell phone, which could well contain fecal coliform and we could transmit it that way (by touching the phone),” Ramirez explained.

Expert advice includes:

• vaccination. This vaccine is not included in the basic plan but can be purchased. The price per dose may range from €20,000 to €35,000. The vaccine consists of three doses, administered every six months. People with chronic illness, fatty liver disease, or who are immunocompromised will benefit the most.
• Wash your hands and food very strictly.
• Avoid eating raw foods.
• Healthy sexual behavior.
• If you have someone with hepatitis in your home, give them their own bathroom if possible.

Hepatitis B

It is very different from the A virus. B virus has a characteristic that it sticks to the human body.

“It fuses with us, reaches the liver and ‘sticks’ to the liver cells, thereby integrating into its material. That’s why you don’t have a true cure, you have a functional cure, it doesn’t affect the person, but it doesn’t eliminated,” the gastroenterologist said.

It is a more contagious disease than hepatitis A or C, or even human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Hepatitis B is spread through blood and fluids (such as semen or vaginal fluid)., which is why it is also considered a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Or, if it’s blood, use instruments that may contain blood, such as needles, razors, etc. This can be seen, for example, in people who use intravenous drugs.

Another important route of transmission is the perinatal route, from mother to child in utero.

Most adult patients experience functional remission. The immune system controls the infection so that it does not become chronic.

On the other hand, among mother-to-child infections, 85 to 90 percent develop the chronic form. This gradually damages the liver until it leads to cirrhosis. Additionally, this virus has been linked to liver cancer.

Yes, there are treatments to control the liver, but even if the body gets the infection under control, the liver can reactivate if you have a certain type of disease or if medication weakens its defenses.

The advantage is that the vaccine has been included in the basic vaccination program since 1995. This is one of the first gifts a baby receives when he or she is born.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is spread much like hepatitis B, primarily from mother to baby through bodily fluids during sexual intercourse, intravenous drugs, or during pregnancy. However, the transmission efficiency is not as good as B virus, and the simplest route of transmission is through blood.

“It is completely different from virus A and virus B. For a long time it was unknown; it was called ‘non-A non-B hepatitis’ because it is very difficult to isolate and identify the virus,” Ramirez emphasized .

Doctors note that treatments have long been crude, but now there are direct-acting antiviral drugs that can even cure chronic infections. These medications are provided by Social Security.

However, the opioid crisis, primarily in the United States, has made transmission easier and more reinfections possible.

The negative is that there is no vaccine for it, but it can be caught in time with a blood test.

Other less common types of hepatitis

There are also less common diseases such as hepatitis D and hepatitis E.

D or Delta is not a virus itself, but a subviral particle. It requires the person to be infected with hepatitis B. This infection causes changes in liver cells that allow Agent D to infect and develop disease with greater complications. In this case, the best way to prevent hepatitis D is to get vaccinated against hepatitis B. If one does not affect it, the other will not.

The alphabet ends with hepatitis E, which is considered a zoonotic disease, that is, transmitted through animals. It is normal for this to happen to keepers of wild animals due to animal droppings or undercooked animal meat. The disease is rare but can be fatal for pregnant women or people with immune problems.

Finally, 2022 also features the following: Unexplained hepatitis in children. Ten people are hospitalized at the National Children’s Hospital of Costa Rica. The World Health Organization (WHO) continues to study adenovirus F41 as part of its main hypothesis, but there may be other reasons.