What indicators are checked for viral hepatitis?

Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
Updated on September 18, 2024
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Viral hepatitis requires relevant hepatitis markers, such as hepatitis A antibodies IgG and IgM for hepatitis A, and for hepatitis B, the "hepatitis B two and a half pairs" test is conducted to check for surface antigens. If the surface antigen is positive, it indicates a hepatitis B virus infection; if negative, there is no hepatitis B virus infection. Hepatitis C is primarily screened through hepatitis C antibodies; if the screening is positive, further testing for hepatitis C virus RNA is needed. Hepatitis E mainly involves testing for hepatitis E antibodies IgG and IgM.

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Written by Zhang Jian Kang
Infectious Disease
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Is viral hepatitis serious?

The onset of viral hepatitis is fast or sudden, and it depends on the type of hepatitis. Viral hepatitis can be categorized into acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, liver failure, cholestatic hepatitis, and cirrhotic hepatitis. Acute hepatitis and liver failure typically have a rapid onset, with common pathogens like Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E, which can cause acute hepatitis and may lead to symptoms such as significant fatigue, poor appetite, and dark urine in a short period. However, chronic hepatitis caused by Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, which can even lead to cirrhosis, tends to progress slowly. After infection with the virus, the body may carry the virus for a long time without any symptoms. It may take 10-20 years or even longer for symptoms like fatigue and poor appetite to appear.

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Infectious Diseases
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Symptoms of viral hepatitis

Viral hepatitis is caused by the infection of the liver by various viruses, leading to inflammatory damage to the liver. The main symptoms are manifestations of liver damage, such as fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, aversion to oily foods, abdominal distension, pain in the liver area, dark urine, jaundice, changes in liver function, elevated bilirubin, and other symptoms like abdominal bloating.

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Written by Zhang Jian Kang
Infectious Disease
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Do you need a blood transfusion for viral hepatitis?

The treatment of viral hepatitis generally does not require blood transfusion. The primary treatment methods for viral hepatitis include ensuring plenty of rest, eating smaller and more frequent meals, and paying attention to diet. Additionally, medications that protect the liver, reduce enzyme levels, and alleviate jaundice can be used. For viral hepatitis caused by hepatitis B or C, formal antiviral treatment is also necessary. If liver damage is extremely severe, leading to liver failure and very high bilirubin levels, artificial liver treatment can be administered. Artificial liver treatment is of two types: one is plasma exchange, commonly referred to as a blood transfusion, and the other is protein adsorption; both of these methods are relatively effective.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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What medicine to take for viral hepatitis?

In the treatment and management of viral hepatitis, it is necessary to handle it based on the actual situation, as different types of viral hepatitis have different treatment methods and strategies. For Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E, there are no specific antiviral drugs targeting the virus; the main approach is symptomatic treatment. If liver function is abnormal, it is advisable to choose some liver-protecting and enzyme-lowering drugs. For significantly high levels of bilirubin, one can opt for drugs that reduce jaundice and ensure adequate rest. In the treatment of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, if there are candidates suitable for antiviral treatment, active antiviral therapy should be undertaken. The treatment strategy should be based on the actual situation.

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Written by Zhang Jian Kang
Infectious Disease
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How is viral hepatitis transmitted?

Viral hepatitis comes in many types, with its main pathogens including hepatitis A, B, C, D, E, and others. Each type targets different transmission pathways; for example, hepatitis A and E are primarily transmitted via the digestive tract. They can spread through fecal-oral transmission, and ingesting contaminated food can lead to the dissemination of hepatitis A or E. For hepatitis B, the main transmission routes include mother-to-child transmission, blood and body fluid transmission, and close personal contact can also lead to the transmission of hepatitis B. As for hepatitis C, the primary transmission method is through transfusion of blood or blood products, and patients on dialysis are a high-risk group for hepatitis C infection.