Anti Aging Products

HGH Articles

Hepatitis: Types, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Time and again we hear disturbing news of new cases of hepatitis in different parts of the world, including the United States. Recently, there have been outbreaks from California to Kentucky and Ohio with a disturbing number of the reported cases ending in death. In fact, Hepatitis kills more people per year than any other infectious disease in our country. State government is sometimes forced to step in to try and make life saving drugs more affordable for their residents.

This disease is obviously a serious one. But why? In this comprehensive article, you will get answers to this and several other questions you may have on hepatitis.

What is Hepatitis?

Described in simple terms, hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. This can be the result of different factors, including infections and damage resulting from lifestyle choices.

Your liver is a crucial organ in the promotion of good health. It helps to produce hormones and growth factors. It also assists in storing vitamins and, perhaps, more importantly, in getting rid of harmful substances from your body.

It is possible for some people to have hepatitis without knowing it. The acute or short term form can pass without creating any serious problems, but it may also progress to the chronic form. Hepatitis cases that are chronic – lasting longer than six months - pose the real risk to health.

In addition to acute and chronic hepatitis, you may also hear of fulminant hepatitis. This is a rare complication of acute hepatitis, and happens to people with no history of liver disease, for example with acetaminophen overdose. It is characterized by the sudden and severe impairment of liver function and signals failure of the organ.

Inflammation of the liver affects hundreds of million people globally. It is responsible for more than one million deaths every year, according to estimates.

There are two broad categories of hepatitis, namely:

Viral or infectious hepatitis
Non-infectious hepatitis

Viral hepatitis cases are the most common. Most of the types of the disorder people often talk about fall under this category. There are at least five types of viruses that can cause hepatitis. They include:

Hepatitis virus A (HVA)
Hepatitis virus B (HVB)
Hepatitis virus C (HVC)
Hepatitis virus D (HVD)
Hepatitis virus E (HVE)

We go into more depth about viral hepatitis in the following sections.

Hepatitis A

Caused by the consumption of food or water contaminated by fecal matter from an infected person, Hepatitis A typically manifests as big outbreaks and epidemics. Although infections are more common in low-income countries, hepatitis A affects people all around the world. The United States is not left out. In 2015, there were 1,390 reported cases of the condition in the country.

Children aged between 5 and 14 are most at risk, especially when exposed to dirty water and without access to a vaccination program. Adults are less at risk mainly because exposure when young grants immunity for life, as does receiving a vaccination. Interestingly, humans are the only animal carrier of the virus, even insects cannot transmit it.

Hepatitis A is usually mild and the majority of those who have it experience complete recovery. However, it is possible for the infection to become severe and even life-threatening. Many people will be happy to know that safe and efficacious vaccines are available to guard against the virus. You will find these especially essential when traveling to high-risk countries.

Hepatitis B

Affecting more than 340 million people, according to a 2015 estimate, hepatitis B is the most common hepatitis worldwide. Transmitted as a blood-borne infection intravenous, which means injecting into a vein) drug users are at great risk of having hepatitis B, alongside other infections such as HIV. High-risk persons also include healthcare workers, organ transplant patients, dialysis patients, and people engaged in high-risk sexual behaviors.

Infected pregnant women will pass on the virus to their babies if they do not receive a vaccine to suppress the infection. Care must continue after childbirth as transmission can still occur when a nursing mother breastfeeds her baby.

Hepatitis B is again less common in Western countries and is most endemic to countries in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. In these regions it is estimated that up to 10% of adults are affected with majority of people who develop acute hepatitis B showing no apparent clinical illness. Most adults infected with the virus fully recover within a couple of months.

However, an estimated 1 in every 4 persons with acute infection become lifetime carriers. Many of those who have it as children develop chronic infection later in life.

In 2015, the hepatitis B virus was connected to roughly 887,000 deaths due to complications.

There are effective vaccines for protection against hepatitis B virus. These are part of routine immunization program in some countries.

Hepatitis C

Also spread through blood-to-blood contact, this type of viral hepatitis is the most notorious. It leads to a variety of serious and life-threatening complications.

It is estimated that roughly 1 in every 4 persons with hepatitis C develop cirrhosis or scarring of the liver. The virus is also carcinogenic, making it a lead cause of liver cancer.

Hepatitis C – widely known as hep C – affects up to 200 million people worldwide. It is estimated that around 3.5 million adults are infected with the hep C virus in the U.S., with the majority born between 1945 and 1965.

Hepatitis C appears to be most common in the developing countries of Africa, Asia, and South America. Incidence in these places can be as high as 10% of total population. Prevalence rates up to 20% have been reported in Egypt.

Same people who are at higher risk of HBV infection are also more prone to HCV infection. They include intravenous drug users, babies born by infected mothers, and health workers.

Blood transfusions used to be a very common means of getting hepatitis C decades ago. But these days it is normal practice to screen donated blood for HCV before transfusion. In some poorer countries, due to unhygienic or uninformed practices transmission can occur simply from a visit to a barbershop.

In Pakistan, for example, researchers found that a potash alum stone commonly rubbed on facial shaving cuts is a major contributor to Hep C cases [1]. The virus remains on the stone long after use, coming into contact with the next customers in line.

Hepatitis C is often hard to detect, sometimes giving symptoms of the flu if any are felt at all, making detection and treatment efforts more difficult. This in turn makes further spread and epidemics more likely.

Hepatitis C has no vaccine yet, but there are effective drugs for treatment of it’s symptoms.

Other Types of Hepatitis

In addition to the core variants, there are several other forms of hepatitis. The following deserve special mention.

Hepatitis D

This is known as a satellite infection as the hepatitis D virus (HDV) relies on co-infection with Hepatitis B, whether at the same time or superimposed onto an already chronic Hep B infection.

People contract hepatitis D through blood-to-blood transmission such unprotected sexual contact.

Hepatitis E

Just like hepatitis A, this type manifests as massive outbreaks and epidemics resulting from food or water contamination, however with typically mild, temporary symptoms. You can get it from eating raw or undercooked pork, venison or wild boar meat.

Hepatitis E infections are more common in the developing world and are rarely seen in the U.S. It mostly affects young adults and has no vaccine.

Alcoholic hepatitis

It is easy to guess what this type of hepatitis is about: it is a form you get from excessive consumption of alcoholic drinks. Usually, those who are affected have been drinking for years with alcoholic hepatitis believed to affect about 1 in 10 alcoholics.

This condition falls within the range of alcohol liver disease. It doesn’t always show any symptoms until it has done significant damage. Many people who have alcoholic hepatitis will be unaware until the end stages of the disease.

Autoimmune hepatitis

A rare form of hepatitis, this disease is characterized by an abnormal immune response. The immune system of a person that is affected attacks their own liver cells.

It is not clear what causes the anomalous immune response that is seen in autoimmune hepatitis. But it is thought that some people may be genetically predisposed to the disorder. Some human leukocyte antigens have been observed to play a role in the immune response.

Autoimmune hepatitis can do so much significant damage to the liver that the organ stops functioning efficiently.

Bacterial hepatitis

Certain strains of bacteria can cause people to have hepatitis. Salmonella species and campylobacter species are among those whose infection can result in an acute form of the disorder. Chronic bacterial hepatitis is caused by organisms including Coxiella burnetti, rickettsia species, and mycobacteria species.

Symptoms of Hepatitis

People with hepatitis may exhibit anything in the range of no symptoms to very severe symptoms. Of course, the length of time and the nature of the causative factor will determine the symptoms that will accompany an infection.

Symptoms typically appear within 1-6 months of having the infection, if they do show at all.

Signs that may suggest acute hepatitis, which commonly results from viral infections, include:

Fatigue
Headaches
Nausea
Loss of appetite
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Weight loss
Jaundice (yellowing of the whites of the eyes and skin)

These are some of the symptoms you will notice at the early stages. For most people, there is not much to worry about with acute hepatitis.

However, some people may progress from the acute to the chronic phase when the problem doesn’t resolve within a maximum of six months.

The symptoms that are present in cases of chronic hepatitis include those mentioned above. But these will be more suggestive of considerable liver inflammation and damage.

Chronic infection can interfere with the liver’s hormonal functions. This can result in appearance of acne, absence of menstrual period in women, and abnormal hair growth.

Confusion, itchy skin, dark urine, hives, and blood in feces are some of the other symptoms that may also manifest. People with chronic hepatitis are at greater risk of liver scarring or cirrhosis, which can lead to edema and fluid accumulation in the abdomen. It increases the risk of grave complications, such as liver cancer.

Considering that it takes time for chronic hepatitis to develop, many people who may miss the symptoms or mistake them for something else if they do appear are missing out on sometimes vital treatment.

In some cases, persons with hepatitis do not even have an inkling of them having it until they experience liver failure.

How is Hepatitis Diagnosed?

It is hard to guess whether you have hepatitis. Even if you do manage to do that, you cannot easily tell the type because of the similarity of symptoms. Only laboratory testing can help you detect the disorder.

Nevertheless, evaluation of signs and symptoms is most likely the first thing your doctor will do. He will examine your medical history and ask questions to ascertain whether you have been exposed to conditions that can make you susceptible to infection.

The following are the most common tools that are usually employed for making a diagnosis.

Blood tests

These are mostly used for diagnosing infectious or viral hepatitis. They help to check the blood levels of viral antigens and antiviral antibodies.

Blood tests also assist in assessing liver function through levels of certain enzymes and proteins. They give an idea of how active the causative organisms are in the liver.

These tests include nucleic acid tests, complete blood count, serology, and blood chemistry.

Besides viral hepatitis, blood testing can also be useful in unraveling some other types of hepatitis with acute causes.

Imaging

An ultrasound scan of the abdominal region can reveal signs of possible hepatitis issues. Ultrasound waves are used to produce an image of your internal organs. This can make it easy for your doctor to have a better idea of the state of these, especially your liver.

Ultrasound can be very helpful in detecting abnormal liver function. Among other benefits, it can show fluid accumulation in the abdomen and liver damage.

If fluid accumulation is noticed, your doctor may have paracentesis performed. This involves removal of fluid, using a needle or catheter, to determine what's responsible for fluid accumulation.

Ultrasound can help to identify fatty changes (steatosis) in liver tissue. It can detect nodularity of the surface of the liver, which is a possible sign of cirrhosis.

MRI and CT are better in this regard, especially the former. They produce a better level of detail that can make the job of your doctor easier.

Strangely, though, imaging tests cannot detect liver inflammation unless it has caused hepatomegaly, or abnormal growth.

Liver biopsy

This test is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of hepatitis. It is the only one that has been proven to reveal inflammation and liver fibrosis.

Liver biopsy involves extraction of tissue sample from your liver. This means it can potentially be rather invasive but doctors sometimes do this using a needle, guided by ultrasound.

The procedure can show the extent of liver damage. It can also help to assess the risk of having liver cancer.

Treating Hepatitis

In some cases, people do not need to do anything for hepatitis to resolve on its own. Hepatitis A, for instance, rarely leads to hospitalization.

Treatment of the disease depends on the state, whether it is acute or chronic. The cause and severity are also important considerations.

Hepatitis A

Typically, this form doesn't require any treatment - it resolves after a short time. Adequate water intake, good nutrition, and bed rests are what doctors often recommend for those showing some symptoms or discomfort.

You can take the vaccine to protect yourself against the HAV. It is available for both children and adults.

Hepatitis B

Almost all those affected by acute hepatitis B recover without any anti-viral treatment.

Drugs are used to fight the infection when it becomes chronic. This progression may be the result of co-morbid disorders or age.

Severe cases can be successfully treated with antiviral therapy that aims at preventing the virus from replicating. About seven medications have been approved for treatment in the U.S. These include injectable interferon alpha, lamivudine, and pegylated interferon.

Hepatitis C

It is almost impossible to recover from this variant without treatment. This is because it progresses to the chronic state more often than not. The principal goal of treatment is prevention of liver cancer which is much preferred over having to treat an actual cancer with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Treatment typically involves the use of prescription antiviral drugs with or without ribavirin. The agents work by trying to keep the HCV from replicating.

Indirect acting antivirals, such as pegylated interferon and ribavirin, were previously the only means of fighting the hepatitis C virus. But now, direct acting agents are available, promising an impressive cure rate.

The new drugs include the likes of telaprevir, sofosbuvir, and ledipasvir. They are often used in combinations - sometimes, with ribavirin.

Other cases of hepatitis may be treated by making certain lifestyle changes such as reduction of alcohol intake or illicit drug use. Better hygiene practices can also help, especially with prevention.

Liver transplantation may be the only option when there is significant damage.

Prohibitive Costs of Hepatitis Treatment

The best a person can do for himself or herself is to prevent hepatitis infection. This is because costs of treatments can be quite expensive.

In the case of chronic hepatitis B, the cost implication is worsened by the fact that some people may need treatment for months. It is possible that some may have to continue using the drugs for years.

However, hepatitis C drugs are more notorious for their exceptionally high prices. This is especially the case among newer medications that boast estimated cure rates of up to 96 percent.

Notable among these are Harvoni (ledipasvir and sofosbuvir) and Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) by Gilead Sciences Inc.

These popular and effective hepatitis C drugs have been the subject of much controversy for their prices. Sovaldi cost about $1,000 per pill, while Harvoni can cost more than $1,100 a pill.

Sovaldi is often taken together with some other drugs. As a result you may have to spend an amount in excess of $100,000 for complete treatment.

Although there are cheaper rival offerings for hep C, the prices still remain in the tens of thousands of U.S. dollars.

What makes the entire thing sadder is that insurance companies are mostly not ready to cover costs of treatment with very strict conditions for eligibility.

Amongst other things, the insurers assess the severity of the effect of the disease on the liver, presence of other disorders that may worsen liver damage, and life expectancy of the patient before agreeing to pay. This means is that your insurance company many not step in until your liver is about to lose its function completely.

What You Can Do to Get Affordable Treatment

Seek your doctor's help

Your doctor has an important role in ensuring your insurance company accepts to pay. He can help to put together convincing evidence showing you really need the treatment.

Use assistance programs

There are patient assistance programs that can make your treatment more affordable. A good example is that by Gilead for the Sovaldi and Harvoni meds.

Contact an advocacy group

This may be helpful if your insurance company has declined to help. Such can assist in appealing the decision. Advocacy groups help in different aspects of hepatitis treatment, especially that of hep C.

Travel abroad

It is well known that drugs that cost so much in some Western countries are cheaper elsewhere. The same is true with the costly hep C treatments.

In India, especially, drugs used for treating this infection costs just a tiny fraction of what people pay in the U.S. There are reports of people paying less than $1,000 for hep C treatment with generic versions of drugs such as Harvoni and Sovaldi.

The cost of treatment there amounts to just over 1 percent of what Americans pay to treat the disease. It is not surprising then to learn that more people are traveling to India for treatment of Hep C.

A quick Google search shows that there are websites that help those who may have interest in getting significantly cheaper treatment in India. An example is the site cure-hepc.com.

New Revolutionary Drug

A piece of advice some hepatitis C patient may have received at some point is to wait. This was based on the thought that the increasing competition in the market will drive down prices. That advice is turning out to be a sound one. This is because researchers have come up with a new drug that is cheaper than anything patients have seen before now.

A nonprofit organization called Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) recently presented a combination treatment for hepatitis C at the International Liver Conference.

The sofosbuvir and ravidasvir combination Hep C medication, developed in collaboration with Egyptian drug company Pharco Pharmaceuticals, will set patients back by only $300 for a 12-week treatment.

People with Hep C still have to wait, though, because the drug is not yet ready.

Although the interim results were impressive (up to 97% cure rate), late-stage trials are still required before the drug can be made available.

Conclusion

People aren't always aware they have hepatitis. Although the disorder resolves on its own in some cases, success and ease of treatment depends on early detection. Available drugs, especially the latest offerings, offer highly impressive cure rates.

A healthy lifestyle can go a long way in avoiding having to pay the possibly exorbitant costs of treatment. When on holiday or travelling to high risk countries make every effort to ensure there is no contamination of the food and water you consume.

It helps to avoid or reduce excess alcohol consumption. Intravenous drug use and needle sharing alongside high-risk sexual behaviors make infection exceptionally likely compared to the general population. Depending on your location in the world and your personal and work exposure you should consider taking vaccines available for some types, including hep A and B.

It is cheering to know that the overly expensive costs of treatment are beginning to drop. Increasing competition and further research and development suggests the prices of hepatitis drugs, especially those for hep C, are set up for a significant fall anytime soon.

Medical Editor: Dr Shane Jackson MBChB MFSRH GMC

REFERENCES

[1] Role of Potash Alum in Hepatitis C virus Transmission at Barber's Shop (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3112445/)

Hepatitis - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepatitis)

Hepatitis: Types, Symptoms, and Treatment (https://www.healthline.com/health/hepatitis)

Hepatitis - NHS.UK (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hepatitis/)

How Much Does Treatment for Hepatitis C Cost? (https://www.healthline.com/health/hepatitis-c-treatment-cost)

How to Pay for Costly Hepatitis C Drugs | Everyday Health (https://www.everydayhealth.com/news/how-pay-costly-hepatitis-c-drugs/)

$300 Hepatitis C Drug Just As Good as $84,000 Cure: Study | Fortune (http://fortune.com/2018/04/12/hepatitis-c-cure-300-dollars/)

Lowering Hepatitis C Treatment Prices | RealClearHealth (https://www.realclearhealth.com/articles/2017/10/02/how_to_lower_hepatitis_c_treatment_prices_110730.html)

Buying Hep C Treatment in India (https://www.healthline.com/health/hepatitis-c/buying-hep-c-in-india)

Hepatitis C Treatment in India: Saving More Than $90,000 in Medical Bills (http://www.cure-hepc.com/hepatitis-c-treatment-in-india-saving-medical-bills/)

HGH Library

Dr. Rudman's Clinical Findings on the Effects of HGH

The New England Journal of Medicine published Dr. Daniel Rudman landmark clinical findings......

Grow Taller

It is a clear fact that being tall has its advantages, especially in modern society. It has been.....

Male Hair Loss: Why You Are Losing Your Hair?

Hair loss is a distressing problem to many men. It can impact adversely on confidence and self......

Is VigRX Any Safer Than Prescription ED Drugs Such as Viagra, Cialis And Levitra?

For many years, prescription drugs such as......

What's to Know About Testosterone in Women?

At the mention of the word 'testosterone,' what comes to the mind.....

How and Where to Buy HGH

The awesome benefits of human growth hormone (HGH) are to.......

Growth Factor Plus Ingredients: What Is In The Formula?

All height enhancement products or supplements are not......

Benefits to Expect from Using VigRX Plus

Ability to perform very well when with partners is one of the.....

VigRX Plus Clinical Study

VigRX Plus is a very popular product that is commonly used by.....

Andropause: What You Should Know!

It is normal for people to experience certain bodily changes.......

Hair Loss In Women: Causes and Treatment

There is this seeming bias against women when talking about hair......

Understanding the Causes of Aging

What You Need to Know Before Using Meldonium (Mildronate)