It is an acute systemic infection characterized by symptoms such as jaundice, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting, resulting from liver cell damage caused by inflammation primarily occurring in the liver due to viruses that tend to settle in liver cells. The most common causative agents are listed below.
- Hepatitis A virus (HAV)
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV)
- Hepatitis D virus (HDV)
- Hepatitis E virus (HEV)
- Hepatitis G virus (HGV)
- CMV, EBV, HS, and coxsackie viruses
Some of these viruses cause only acute hepatitis, while others can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis. Furthermore, depending on the severity of the resulting hepatitis, they can cause advanced liver failure and lead to life-threatening infection. Those that cause chronic hepatitis can progress to cirrhosis and even liver cancer in advanced stages if not treated appropriately. Vaccines are currently available for Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B, and vaccination against these infections in childhood or in adults who have not had the disease is protective against the disease and should be done without fail.
Acute disease can be seen in three clinical forms.
- Asymptomatic form (the disease is contracted without any symptoms)
- Anicteric form (some symptoms are present but no jaundice)
- Icteric form (jaundice is present along with clinical symptoms)
There are four clinical stages in those who contract the disease with jaundice.
- Incubation period: The period from virus acquisition to disease onset. This period varies for each virus.
Hepatitis A virus: 15-45 days
Hepatitis B virus: 30-180 days
Hepatitis C virus: 15-150 days
Hepatitis D virus: 30-180 days
Hepatitis E virus: 15–60 days
Hepatitis G virus: 15–35 days
- Pre-icteric period (early prodromal period)
Lasts 3–10 days. General symptoms include a slight increase in body temperature, easy fatigue, weakness, muscle pain, nausea sometimes accompanied by vomiting, and abdominal pain.
- Icteric period
Lasts between 1 and 3 weeks. The main symptoms are dark urine, yellowing of the skin and eyes, lightening of stool color, and enlargement of the liver.
- Recovery period
Hepatitis viruses can be transmitted in different ways.
Hepatitis A virus is transmitted through the fecal-oral route. Poor hygiene conditions are the most important factor in the spread of the disease.
Hepatitis B virus can be transmitted from infected individuals through blood, body fluids, and sexual contact, as well as from a mother with chronic hepatitis B to her baby during childbirth.
Hepatitis C virus is primarily transmitted through blood.
Hepatitis D virus is transmitted through blood but cannot cause disease on its own. For the disease to develop, the person must have a hepatitis B virus infection (acute or chronic).
Hepatitis E virus is transmitted through the fecal-oral route.
Among these infections, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and Hepatitis D, which causes infection together with Hepatitis B, are particularly important due to their ability to cause chronic disease.
The diagnosis of viral hepatitis is made primarily through laboratory tests, along with clinical examination. Appropriate tests performed on patients with symptoms can lead to a diagnosis in a short time.