What are the various kinds of Hepatitis?
Hepatitis B (HBV)
HBV is a viral disease that hits the liver. HBV could result in lifelong infection, liver cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, liver failure, and perhaps death. Practically one-third of infected persons demonstrate signs. Typical HBV signs or symptoms include joint pain, vomiting, nausea, decrease in appetite, abdominal discomfort, exhaustion, and jaundice.
Hepatitis C (HCV)
HCV is viral liver disease due to the Hepatitis C virus. Research indicates about eighty percent of those with HCV exhibit signs or symptoms. Much like HBV, a few warning signs include nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, dark urine, fatigue, and jaundice.
The Hepatitis Tests
Hepatitis B (HBV) Test
A blood test is conducted to detect the surface antigen for an HBV infection.
Hepatitis C (HCV) Test
A blood test is carried out to check for the antibodies the body’s immune system produces in response to the HCV virus.
When the HCV antibody test is positive, a RIBA test is performed to verify the antibody presence.
Symptoms of Hepatitis
You could be have contracted HBV and display no warning signs at all. You may be spreading the virus and not be aware of it.
Signs might include:
- yellowing of the whites of your eyes or yellow skin (jaundice)
- decrease in appetite
- dark urine
- low energy
- nausea
- grey-colored stools
- abdominal irritation
- joint pains?
Hepatitis Stages
When first afflicted with HBV, one has an acute infection.
Throughout an acute infection, the individual might not demonstrate any signs. Others sometimes have some or certain mild flu-type signs and symptoms. In rare cases, significant signs have occurred which needed medical attention like joint ache, cutaneous eruption, abdominal pain, or jaundice.
An acute infection can remain up to 6 month. During this period, an individual might pass the HBV to other people. Almost 90 % of adults recover from the HBV acute stage after a couple of months simply because they acquire immunity to the virus. These same people will not wind up developing “chronic” hepatitis. If the person had any signs present, these symptoms will dissipate and the virus is unable to be transmitted to others. The infection will harbor no long-term effects for these people.
However, the other 10% of men and women may be not able to deal with HBV, and will develop “chronic” hepatitis. “Chronic” hepatitis is a long-term liver infection (when the infection lasts longer than 6 months). These individuals are “chronic carriers” and may pass HBV to others forever.
