Hepatitis Specialist

What is hepatitis?

Hepatitis is a group of diseases involving liver inflammation. Viral hepatitis, which includes hepatitis types A-E, occurs when a virus attacks your liver. Hepatitis B and C are both common in the United States. 

Both hepatitis B and C can cause liver cirrhosis and can increase your risk of liver cancer. Hepatitis C is the more serious of the two. 

Hepatitis B and C can be either acute or chronic. Acute infections last less than six months, and chronic infections last longer. Hepatitis C is more likely to progress from acute to chronic. Up to 85% of hepatitis C sufferers develop the chronic form of the infection. 

What are the symptoms of hepatitis?

Symptoms of viral hepatitis can include:

• Low-grade fever
• Chronic headaches
• Muscle aches
• Chronic tiredness
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Dark urine
• Pale stools
• Yellowing skin and eyes (jaundice)
• Upper abdominal pain

Hepatitis B and C don't necessarily cause immediate symptoms. It can sometimes take years for the signs of liver disease to appear. 

How do you get viral hepatitis?

Viral hepatitis spreads in several ways. With hepatitis B, the virus may spread through bodily fluids. It often spreads through:

• Shared needles
• Sexual transmission
• Mother-to-child, during birth

Hepatitis C typically spreads through blood contact, which often occurs with shared needles. Less commonly, hepatitis C may also spread through sexual contact or birth. 

How do you diagnose viral hepatitis?

Your doctor at Gastroenterology & Nutrition of Central Florida typically diagnoses viral hepatitis using a blood test. The blood test also identifies the stage of your disease.

In some cases, you may need a liver biopsy, so your doctor can tailor your treatment according to your degree of liver scarring. 

What is the treatment for hepatitis B or C?

Your doctor at Gastroenterology & Nutrition of Central Florida offers a variety of hepatitis solutions. 

Acute hepatitis B doesn't typically need treatment unless the disease progresses to chronic. But, acute hepatitis C does require treatment because it so often progresses to the chronic type of the disease without intervention. 

Treatment for chronic hepatitis B usually involves antiviral medications. Although treatment can't completely eliminate the virus, it can control it very effectively. 

Treatment for hepatitis C usually involves oral antiviral medications. Hepatitis C is curable, but prompt action is the best way to eliminate the virus before it causes long-term damage. 

For hepatitis help from the liver disease experts, call Gastroenterology & Nutrition of Central Florida, or use the online scheduler now.