Hepatitis
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that is caused by a variety of infectious viruses and noninfectious agents leading to a range of health problems, some of which can be fatal.

Viral Hepatitis

There are five main strains of the hepatitis virus, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E.
Hepatitis A and E are highly contagious liver infections that spread through unclean water. While Hepatitis A is more frequently seen in children and is often mild, Hepatitis E is more commonly seen in adults and is particularly dangerous in pregnant women where it carries a mortality risk of more than 10%. Both can cause fulminant hepatitis in rare cases which require intensive care and even liver transplant to save the patient.

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease. It spreads through contaminated blood products, sexually or from mother to child during pregnancy Once chronic disease is established, liver damage occurs at a slow paceeventually causing liver cancer and cirrhosis with
failure. Early detection and treatment can prevent these complications. Hepatitis D affects only people who have Hepatitis B and can hasten the liver damage.
Hepatitis C also spreads through contaminated blood products and reused IV syringe (drug users) and leads to chronic infection. Eventually it may also cause
cirrhosis and liver cancer. Recent therapies can completely cure hepatitis C within 3 to 6 months. However early diagnosis before development of cirrhosis is essential for best results. Extremely effective vaccines are available for HAV and HBV which provide effective protection against these 2 viruses.
All these viruses can easily be detected by conducting a simple blood test and hence by establishing early diagnosis, devastating complications can be prevented.