What is viral hepatitis?

Article written by Dr. Duong Cao Cuong, Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine, Vinmec Times City International Hospital

Hepatitis is a common disease caused by many causes including viruses. Viral hepatitis including hepatitis A, B, C, D, E, if not treated in time, will lead to chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and even liver cancer.

Viruses directed towards the liver are the most common cause of liver disease in general, and acute hepatitis in particular. The most common viral agents that cause hepatitis include five types: A, B, C, D, and E.
Clinical manifestations of acute hepatitis are similar regardless of virus type. Many episodes of acute viral hepatitis are not obvious because there are no clinical symptoms, no symptoms of jaundice. Most acute viral hepatitis recover completely. Hepatitis B, C, and D can lead to chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Virus B (HBV): 3 types
Contact with blood and blood products, secretions such as semen, vaginal secretions, pleural fluid, abdomen, cerebrospinal fluid... Through sex. From mother to child. Hepatitis C virus (HCV):
Primarily hematopoietic Sexual route and mother-to-child : low frequency and effectiveness. Virus D (HDV):
Similar to HBV, occurs only in people infected with SVB.

Virus A (HAV): spread from person to person (fecal-oral route) by contaminated food and water. Virus E (HEV): Similar to HAV, mostly waterborne.

Good personal hygiene prevents transmission of HAV, HEV by fecal-oral route. Avoid contact with blood and secretions infected with HBV and HCV. Vaccination: There are vaccines against HBV, HAV. To proactively detect disease early, you should check your general health regularly. Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital has general health checkup packages suitable for each age, gender and individual needs of customers with a reasonable price policy, including:
Health checkup package overview Vip Standard general health checkup package Patient's examination results will be returned to your home. After receiving the results of the general health examination, if you detect diseases that require intensive examination and treatment, you can use services from other specialties right at the Hospital with quality treatment and services. outstanding customer service.

REFERENCES
Mario Rizzetto and Fabien ZoulimViral hepatitis. Text book of Hepatology, 3th edition, 2007. Raymond S. Koff. Acute viral hepatitis. Handbook of Liver Disease, 2th edition, 2004.