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The liver is the largest organ of the human body and is said to be the most metabolically active as well. its diverse functions are very important in maintaining normal function of the body, therefore a disorder of the liver can cause serious problems to the whole body and can even lead to death.
Inflammation of the liver is known as hepatitis, Hep. It can be caused by several factors, some of which can be prevented by vaccination and good personal hygiene.
According to the World Health Organization, about 1.4 million people die from viral hepatitis globally on a yearly basis. 90% of this is from Hep B and C, while the remaining 10% are as a result of other forms of viral hepatitis. Nigeria has a prevalence of 8.1% for Hep C and 1.1% for Hep B ()
HepB is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in Nigeria. This is most likely because of the poor rate of vaccination, little awareness about the disease and high rate of exposure to it.
During the 2020 World Hepatitis Day observed in Nigeria, the Minister of Health stated that about 20 million people out of the approximately 200 million people in the country are chronically infected with hepatitis. This indeed is a reason to be concerned and proactive in preventing the spread of the disease.
Hepatitis can be classified as viral and non-viral. When health professionals speak about hepatitis, they are usually referring to the ones caused by some identified viruses; these are Hep A, B, C, D, and E. Research have shown that there are also F and G.
Non-viral ones could be caused by excess alcohol consumption, drugs, toxins, other diseases and even autoimmune factors.
As mentioned above, there are several types and each has a different cause. Below are some of the causes:
It is caused by the HepA virus. Hepatitis is acute (symptoms develop in a very short time) and just like other viral infections, it is infectious I.e. it can be spread from one person to another. It is most commonly transmitted by consuming food and/or water contaminated by the faeces of an infected person.
This is possible when good hand washing habits are not maintained especially after using the toilet.
This is caused by coming in contact with the body fluids of people infected with the HepB virus. It is transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse, blood transfusion, sharing of needles/razors/toothbrushes, tattooing, body piercing among others.
Unlike HepA, HepC infection is chronic. This infection if left untreated or poorly treated, could lead to other liver diseases like cancer, cirrhosis (scarring) and liver failure.
It is caused by the HepC virus. Its mode of transmission is similar to that of HepB, and it is chronic as well. As a result of its chronic nature, the infected liver will be exposed to other diseases.
Hepatitis D is caused by coming in direct contact with blood infected with the HepD virus. This type is rare because the virus can only survive when there is s preexisting HepB infection.
his makes it very serious and difficult to treat.
The virus causing this infection, the HepE virus, is mostly found in water contaminated with faecal matter, this is why it is more common in underdeveloped cities and nations.
This is not common and its cause is not clearly known, but it is believed to be associated with other autoimmune disorders. In this case, the immune system which is actually responsible for protecting the body against infections will turn around and attack the body cells and organs — including the liver.
As mentioned earlier, the liver has diverse functions. This includes removal of toxic substances from the body, production of bile needed for digestion, production of somebody proteins (e.g Albumin). Therefore, an infection to the liver will affect these functions and lead to the manifestation of some of the following symptoms:
Yellowing of the skin and eyes; a condition known as jaundice.
Abdominal pain
Fatigue
Fever
Diarrhoea
Loss of appetite
Nausea and vomiting Etc.
While HepD and E currently have no specific treatment, other types can be considerably treated.
Patients infected with the HepA virus usually do not need medication because the infection resolves on its own. A good diet rich in protein and carbohydrates helps to repair damaged liver cells.
Patients are also advised to avoid alcohol and any drug that can worsen the condition and slow the healing.
Both can be treated with antiviral medication. Though this treatment is expensive and might have to be continued for a long duration.
Since this type is caused when the immune system begins to attack the liver, it is treated by using drugs that will suppress the activity of the immune system along with other drugs that will repair the damaged liver cells.
Now that we know how dangerous hepatitis can be, it is important that we know how to protect ourselves from this monster of a disease. This can be done by doing the following:
Getting vaccinated against HepA and HepB
Maintaining good personal hygiene of handwashing after using the toilet and before handling food.
Avoid sharing needles, razors, other sharp objects and toothbrushes
Avoid having a blood transfusion in unclean places
Stay away from promiscuous and unprotected sexual intercourse
Always use protective clothing and equipment while treating patients or performing first aid
Reduce alcohol consumption or avoid it completely
Always consult with qualified health professionals before taking medications
Please help spread the message by sharing this with your family and friends to prevent this disease. Also, Send in your questions via the comment box below.
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