VIRAL HEPATITIS

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is acquired from consuming food or water contaminated by the virus. It causes an acute illness characterized by liver inflammation, jaundice, and diarrhoea. It usually resolves without treatment.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is usually acquired from contact with human blood, or having unprotected sex with someone that is infected with the virus.

When acquired as an adult, it usually causes an acute illness characterised by liver inflammation and jaundice, but in the majority of cases will resolve without treatment.

When acquired as a child (usually at the time of childbirth from a mother infected with the virus), then it will usually lie dormant for many years, causing chronic hepatitis B. Chronic hepatitis B is a common cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer. Sadly, it cannot be cured but can be suppressed effectively with medications. It requires regular lifelong monitoring.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C also spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids. Usually, this is acquired through blood exposure from non-sterile tattoos, infected blood products, or shared equipment from intravenous drug use.

Hepatitis C most often causes no symptoms in the initial stages, and leads to chronic infection in the majority of cases. It is a common cause of both cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Thankfully, highly effective antiviral treatments have become available in the last few years, allowing us to cure patients with chronic hepatitis C by completely eradicating the virus.

What symptoms does viral hepatitis cause?

Often an acute hepatitis causes no particular symptoms, however, some patients will
experience one or more of the following:

• Flu-like symptoms
• Fatigue
• Dark urine
• Pale stool
• Abdominal pain
• Loss of appetite
• Unexplained weight loss
• Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)