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What is hepatitis?

Acute or chronic inflammation of the liver caused by a viral infection is called hepatitis. There are several types of the virus that causes the disease. The individual viruses determine the way the virus spreads, the risk of developing the disease, its course, and the possibilities of preventing infection. Today, hepatitis A and hepatitis B infections can be prevented by vaccination, and there is already drug therapy for hepatitis C infection.

HEPATITIS A

Hepatitis A infection is spread through the gastrointestinal system, so we can become infected primarily by consuming contaminated water or food. For traveling abroad, vaccination against type A is therefore recommended, especially for those who are planning a trip to the beach.

What should we pay attention to?

When traveling abroad, it is worth choosing restaurants that apparently follow hygiene standards similar to domestic ones. Eat well-cooked food, avoid raw meat, sea fish and scallops. Drink bottled water instead of tap water and be careful with ice cubes, as they are usually made from tap water. Thoroughly wash the purchased vegetables and fruits too! If you are traveling with a child, it is good to know that the vaccination can be given from the age of 12 months.

What are the symptoms?

In many cases, the inflammation of the liver caused by hepatitis A is asymptomatic, but fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, joint pain, and typical symptoms are jaundice, light-colored stools, dark urine, or, for example, itchy skin.

HEPATITIS B

The hepatitis B virus is spread through blood and body fluids, so primarily through medical intervention or sex, but it can also be infected through a small skin injury. Vaccination can be requested from the age of 1, for traveling abroad or for children at risk, including those living in the same household as a hepatitis B patient.

What should we pay attention to?

If you are traveling abroad, it is worth getting yourself vaccinated, especially if you are hiking in a place where the risk of infection is higher, since then you can catch it even through a small injury. Healthcare workers are also at risk, so vaccination is mandatory in their case, and the level of protection must be checked frequently. The child of a pregnant mother carrying the hepatitis B virus will also be infected if the newborn does not receive vaccination after birth, therefore, during pregnancy care, the mother-to-be must be tested for this in every case. Hepatitis B is also at risk for intravenous drug users and those who frequently change sexual partners, especially if they do not use condoms during intercourse.

What are the protests?

In the acute phase, the symptoms of hepatitis A are similar to those observed during hepatitis A infection, but the course is more severe. If the symptoms persist beyond 6 months, we are talking about chronic hepatitis, which develops in 5-10 percent of cases. Chronic liver disease is rarely cured, it usually persists for life, increasing the risk of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.

HEPATITIS C

Hepatitis C is also transmitted through bodily fluids, primarily through blood, although the risk of sexual transmission is lower than in the case of the hepatitis B virus.

Who are at risk?

In connection with hepatitis C, intravenous drug users are primarily at risk, but people living in the environment of asymptomatic patients are also at risk. Fortunately, nowadays, thanks to screenings, healthcare, e.g. infections caused by blood transfusions, during dialysis treatment or after transplantation do not occur.

What are the symptoms?

Acute infection is often asymptomatic, approximately 10% of patients show symptoms of hepatitis. However, the disease turns into chronic hepatitis in 80-90% of cases and is diagnosed only at this stage in most cases. Cirrhosis and liver cancer can develop as a result of untreated chronic liver disease developed during hepatitis C infection. The disease cannot be prevented by vaccination, but it can currently be treated with specific antiviral drug therapy.