The liver is an extremely important organ because it controls the body’s internal functions to maintain balance. These include creating immunity to prevent infections, detoxifying harmful substances, producing proteins that enable blood clotting, and efficiently producing bile to help digest and absorb fats and vitamins. Therefore, if liver health is not properly cared for, hepatitis (liver inflammation) may occur, which disrupts various bodily functions. To emphasize the importance of liver care, Synphaet Hospital will delve into hepatitis, its symptoms, prevention, treatment, and how to manage complications.

What Is Hepatitis?

Hepatitis is a condition where liver tissue is damaged by various factors, such as infections, alcohol consumption, certain medications, or immune system disorders that destroy the liver.

Types of Hepatitis

Hepatitis can be divided into 2 types based on symptoms:

1. Acute Hepatitis

   • Rapid-onset liver inflammation caused by viral infections, heavy alcohol consumption, or toxic medications.

   • Usually resolves on its own within 6 months. Many patients have no or only mild symptoms.

2. Chronic Hepatitis

   • Liver inflammation lasting over 6 months, often due to hepatitis B (HBV) or hepatitis C (HCV) infections.

   • Early stages typically show no clear symptoms. Liver cells are continuously destroyed without the patient’s awareness until the disease progresses to late stages, leading to cirrhosis or, in some cases, liver cancer.

Symptoms of Hepatitis

Symptoms vary by disease stage:

• Pain in the liver area: Upper right abdominal pain or tightness under the right ribcage due to viral infection causing inflammation, swelling, and liver enlargement, which presses on surrounding tissues.

• Nausea and vomiting: Result from the liver’s inability to filter or remove toxins from the blood, causing abdominal discomfort. If accompanied by loss of appetite, fatigue, or jaundice, seek immediate medical care.

• Loss of appetite: Occurs when the liver cannot properly eliminate waste, affecting digestion and causing nausea.

• Fatigue and weakness: Due to the liver’s reduced ability to filter waste from the blood, lowering energy metabolism.

• Jaundice: Yellowing of the skin and eyes from high bilirubin levels in the blood.

• Dark urine: Caused by reduced liver function, leading to bilirubin buildup excreted through urine (dark yellow to orange).

Diagnosis

Hepatitis is often incidentally detected during health check-ups or when patients present with unexplained symptoms (e.g., fatigue, abdominal pain). Diagnosis involves:

1. Medical history review: Assess risk factors.

2. Physical exam: Check for jaundice or yellowing of the skin/eyes.

3. Blood tests: Measure liver function (e.g., AST/SGOT, ALT/SGPT) and bilirubin levels.

4. Ultrasound: Examine liver structure and abnormalities.

5. Liver biopsy: Confirm disease severity.

Treatment

1. Acute Hepatitis:

   • Focuses on symptom relief and liver recovery (rest, hydration). Most cases resolve spontaneously.

2. Chronic Hepatitis:

   • Antiviral therapy to control infection and reduce inflammation.

   • Regular monitoring to prevent progression to cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Prevention

• Annual health check-ups.

• Vaccination against hepatitis viruses.

• Avoid sharing needles.

• Limit alcohol to reduce liver strain.

• Avoid contact with others’ bodily fluids (e.g., blood, lymph).

Complications

Untreated hepatitis can lead to:

• Malnutrition.

• Excessive bleeding.

• Liver-related brain dysfunction.

• Kidney failure.

• Cirrhosis.

• Liver cancer.

• Death.

Immediate medical attention is critical to manage complications. Prioritize liver health through prevention and early detection!