What is Hepatitis?
Hepatitis is a chronic liver disease which causes inflammation in the liver. Without proper treatment hepatitis can become the cause of scarring and liver cancer. The common cause of hepatitis is viral infections, but there are also several causes of hepatitis which includes drugs, alcohol and autoimmune diseases.
What are the types of hepatitis?
There are mainly five types of hepatitis which are affecting people. The types are :
- Hepatitis A: Hepatitis A is the short paced hepatitis type, which is mainly caused by the hepatitis A virus. This infection spreads if you drink or eat contaminated water or foods. People with this viral infection may recover on their own with some medications.
- Hepatitis B: This is the most chronic kind of hepatitis, millions of people are living with this chronic hepatitis B infection. This infection is mainly caused by the hepatitis b virus, and it spreads through bodily fluid such as saliva, blood and semen.
- Hepatitis C: Hepatitis C and B is the most common type of hepatitis. Unlike hepatitis B, hepatitis C is a long-term bloodborne viral infection which is caused by the hepatitis C (HCV) virus. This also spreads if you come in contact with the blood of an infected person. Serious cases of hepatitis C can cause liver damage and cirrhosis.
- Hepatitis D: Hepatitis D is the very rare kind of hepatitis infection, you can only get infected with the hepatitis d virus if you already have a current hepatitis b infection. The effect of both of these hepatitis infections may lead to serious health complications.
- Hepatitis E: Just like hepatitis D, hepatitis E is also a rare type of hepatitis, which is mainly transmitted through drinking contaminated water. This type of hepatitis can be very harmful for pregnant women.
What is a hepatitis profile test?
The hepatitis profile test is a set of clinical blood tests which will help you to understand whether you have any present or previous infection of hepatitis b virus. Basically, it will help your doctors to diagnose viral infected liver diseases including all types of hepatitis.
The diagnostic tests for hepatitis include tests which examine the hepatitis antigens and antibodies.
- Hepatitis antigens are a kind of substance in the virus which mainly prompts the immune system to fight with the virus.
- Hepatitis antibodies are a kind of protein that our immune system produces to fight o0ff the virus.
When should you go for the hepatitis blood test?
Your healthcare provider will ask you to go for the hepatitis blood test if you are having symptoms of hepatitis infection. The general symptoms of any hepatitis infection are:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Jaundice
- Dark urine
- Pale stool
- Abdominal pain
- Unintentional weight loss
As some hepatitis infected patients do not experience symptoms at all, there are also certain risk factors of getting infected with the hepatitis infection. The risk factors includes:
- If you have HIV
- If you have STI
- If you have came in contact with a hepatitis infected person
- If you parent have hepatitis C infection
- If you have used shared needles of others
- If you are receiving dialysis for a long time period
- If you are a man and have sex with a man
- If you are born in a country where most people are infected with hepatitis B and the people are not getting vaccinated with the hepatitis vaccination
- If you are a doctor or nurse and work in the hepatitis infected area
If you have any of the risk factors then it is better to go for the hepatitis test as early as possible.
What sample will be required?
Only a sample of blood will be required. A phlebo will drain a 3ml sample of your blood through a vein in your hand.
What will be the result interpretations?
Whether you are positive or negative will be written on the test report. However, you should consult with your doctor for clear information regarding your test result.
