WOMEN’S BODIES: HEPATITIS D, C, G, A AND E. TREATMENT OF VIRAL HEPATITIS
Hepatitis D
This used to be called delta hepatitis. It is spread mainly by needle and syringe sharing, rarely by sex, and can only infect people who already have hepatitis B. Infection with both hepatitis В and D often causes more severe liver inflammation than HBV infection alone. Though there is no cure for hepatitis D, it can be prevented by a hepatitis В vaccination or by immunity after complete recovery from HBV infection.
Hepatitis С
and G
The hepatitis С virus was identified in the 1980s, and hepatitis G is the most recently recognized. In the past, when people developed typical hepatitis and no evidence of hepatitis A or HBV infection could be found, the illness was called post-transfusion or non-A, non-B hepatitis.
The incubation period for hepatitis С and G can be from 15 to 160 days. Symptoms are usually moderate to severe. More than half of those infected become carriers and may develop chronic liver disease.
The hepatitis С and D viruses are spread mainly by contaminated blood, usually by sharing needles and syringes. In countries where all blood donors are tested for these viruses, transfusion will become a less common means of spread. Sexual transmission is possible, but uncommon. Until we know more about the sexual transmission of hepatitis С and D, chronic carriers are advised to use condoms for sex.
The viruses that cause these infections live in the faeces of infected people, and must be transferred to the mouth for others to catch them. Infection spreads through contaminated food and water or by anal/oral sexual practices, particularly among homosexually active men.
The hepatitis A virus (HAV) causes epidemics from time to time in Australia. After infection, it takes from 10 to 50 days for symptoms to appear. Recovery is usually complete within a week or two. Complications and chronic liver problems are rare. After recovery, you are immune for life from further infection with HAV. Hepatitis E (enteric hepatitis) appears to spread in epidemics like hepatitis A, and causes similar effects. It is unknown in Australia, and has only been found in India, Asia, Africa and Central America.
Can hepatitis A and E be prevented?
A
permanent vaccine against hepatitis A is available. If you haven’t been immunized and someone you’re close to gets hepatitis A, or you’re travelling in a country where it’s common, your doctor can give you an injection of immunoglobulin that provides antibodies that will fight off infection for up to three months.
Good hygiene helps to protect against hepatitis A and E infection. If you’re visiting places where sanitation is poor, it’s wise to avoid unboiled water and ice and stick to foods that can be peeled or have recently been cooked.
Treatment of viral hepatitis There is no specific treatment for acute viral hepatitis. You’ll usually be advised to rest at home until your liver function returns to normal and you feel well again, and to avoid anything (such as alcohol and certain drags) that might put extra strain on your liver. During the acute phase you’ll be advised against foods containing a lot of oils or fats (meat, milk and so on), which need bile from your liver to be digested. Hospital treatment is only necessary if vomiting or other symptoms are so severe that the patient must be fed intravenously, or if any other complications develop. Recently interferons (which stimulate immune function against viruses) and some antiviral drugs have been used to inhibit the progress of liver damage in chronic hepatitis В, С and G.
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