Viral hepatitis B and C

> How can HBV and HCV infection be contracted?

> How is viral hepatitis diagnosed?

> How is viral hepatitis diagnosed?

> How is viral hepatitis treated?

> How to prevent viral hepatitis B and C?

> FAQ

Viral hepatitis is a liver disease caused by viruses. There are 6 currently known viruses that causes this disease, three of which are most commonly encountered in Poland: hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus. 1

ALCHOHOL REMAINS A SERIOUS PROBLEM CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THIS ORGAN

How can HBV and HCV infection be contracted?

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C infection can be contracted by contact with blood or secretions (saliva, sperm, vaginal secretions) of an infected person.

Therefore, the infection can be contracted:

During potentially safe procedures where the skin is broken

An infection can occur through contact with medical and non-medical instruments that have not been effectively sterilised, e.g. when making a tattoo or during cosmetic procedures 1

During sexual contacts with an infected person 1

The risk is higher in the case of hepatitis B virus and much lower in the case of hepatitis C virus

Through intravenous drug use2,3

The main cause of an infection is using common needles, syringes and other injection devices

In HIV-positive persons

In persons infected with HIV there is a higher incidence of infection with HBV and HCV in comparison with the healthy population.5

During delivery

If the mother is infected, there is also such risk for the newborn baby.1

How is viral hepatitis diagnosed?

For a long time, an infection with hepatitis viruses is not associated with any symptoms that would be noticed by the patient and that would allow an early diagnosis. Hepatitis B virus may not give any symptoms even for 6 months after the infection; for hepatitis C virus it is even a few years. Both HBV and HCV give unspecific symptoms at an early stage. They may include:

Malaise

Unreasonable fatigue

Attention deficit

Muscle and joint pain

Lack of appetite.2,5

How is viral hepatitis diagnosed?

An infection with HBV or HCV is diagnosed through a general interview with the patient as well as laboratory tests and imaging examinations, which help assess changes that have occurred in the body as a result of viral activity. Additionally, in patients with an enlarged liver, biopsy is performed, which means taking a sample of liver cells for examination.2,5

How is viral hepatitis treated? 1

Treatment of viral hepatitis consists in taking antiviral medicines and medicines that will relieve the burdensome symptoms. Such medicines can only be prescribed by a doctor. In addition to the above, the following should be ensured: 

Physical and mental rest

Proper diet

Avoiding any stimulants – patients are strictly prohibited to drink any alcohol for one year after the disease onset

How to prevent viral hepatitis B and C?

The most effective form of preventing the infection is undergoing prophylactic vaccination. Owing to the introduction of prophylactic vaccination against viral hepatitis B, mandatory for all newborns and adolescents, the incidence of this disease has been significantly reduced in Poland. However, no vaccine against hepatitis C virus has been developed so far.1

Measures to reduce the risk of infection include keeping high hygiene standards, avoidance of sharing personal objects such as a toothbrush with other people, selecting beauty and tattoo parlours with high hygiene standards, using mechanical protection during sex.5

 

FAQ

  • Acute viral hepatitis B or C can develop into chronic hepatitis and progress to cirrhosis.1

  • The chance for a complete cure depends on the cause of acute viral hepatitis. HAV does not cause chronic inflammation. In contrast, it can be caused by HBV and HCV infections:

    • by HBV within a range of 2-10%,
    • by HCV within a range of 55-75%.1

  • According to WHO, in 2015 approximately 71 million people suffered from a chronic infection with hepatitis C virus, while more than 1.2 million people were living with chronic infection with hepatitis B virus.

    Also in 2015, 399,000 deaths were attributed to hepatitis C and 887,000 deaths were attributed to hepatitis B – mainly due to hepatic cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (i.e. primary liver cancer).3

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Phospholipids (Essentiale Forte P) 10s

CLINICAL PARTICULARS
Indications
Nutritional support in the management of damaged liver (due to chronic liver disease, liver cirrhosis, fatty liver & intoxication by hepatotoxic substances). Each hard gelatin capsule contains: De-oiled enriched phospholipids from soya-beans …………… 300 mg

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Phospholipids (Essentiale Forte P) 50s

CLINICAL PARTICULARS
Indications
Nutritional support in the management of damaged liver (due to chronic liver disease, liver cirrhosis, fatty liver & intoxication by hepatotoxic substances). Each hard gelatin capsule contains: De-oiled enriched phospholipids from soya-beans …………… 300 mg

Read more

Learn more about the most common liver diseases

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

NAFLD, named new epidemic of the 21st century, is caused by factors other than excessive alcohol consumption.


 

Alcoholic liver disease

The prevalence of liver diseases is clearly linked to drinking habits – when alcohol is consumed regularly and in excess, the liver is doomed to fail.

 

Hepatitis B and C

Viral hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) are the most common viruses in Poland causing acute or chronic hepatitis.
 

 

Cirrhosis

Some causes of cirrhosis of the liver can be classified as external - they have to do with our lifestyle or treatment that causes irreversible liver damage.

 

Autoimmune hepatitis

Autoimmune diseases can be compared to self-sabotage – it is a situation in which your body starts attacking its own tissues. In AIH, the immune system attacks hepatocytes, which are liver cells.

Drug-induced liver injury

The mechanisms for the development of DILI are not fully understood, but it is most likely that the disease is the result of an interaction between the substance and the individual factors of the person.
 

    1. Juszczyk J. Ostre wirusowe zapalenie wątroby (WZW), Medycyna Praktyczna, Gastrologia http://gastrologia.mp.pl/choroby/watroba/50949,ostre-wirusowe-zapalenie-watroby-wzw. accessed on: 10/03/2021

    2. MedLine Plus Medical Encyclopedia. Topic: Hepatitis B.; https://medlineplus.gov/hepatitisb.html accessed on: 08/03/2021

    3. WHO Hepatitis C fact sheet https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-c accessed on: 17/03/2021

    4. Wnuk A. Wirusy hepatotropowe a zakażenie HIV, Borgis - Postępy Nauk Medycznych 3/2004, pp. 18-25

    5. MedLine Plus Medical Encyclopedia. Topic: Hepatitis C.; https://medlineplus.gov/hepatitisc.html accessed on: 11/02/2021