Symptoms of hepatitis can include feeling sick, loss of appetite, tiredness, headache and skin and yellow eyes and symptoms usually appear after 15 to 45 days after risky situations such as unprotected intimate contact, use of very dirty public toilets or sharing needles or piercing materials.
There are different types of hepatitis such as Hepatitis A, B, C, D, E, F, G, autoimmune hepatitis, medication and chronic hepatitis, so the symptoms, the form of contagion and the treatment can be different from case to case. Learn about the different types of hepatitis that exist.
Main Symptoms of Hepatitis
In most cases, hepatitis does not cause symptoms that are easy to identify. If you think you may have hepatitis, select what you are feeling to assess your symptoms and know your risk:
- 1. Pain in the upper right belly Yes No
- 2. Yellowish color in the eyes or skin Yes No
- 3. Yellowish, gray or whitish stools Yes No
- 4. Dark urine Yes No
- 5. Constant low fever Yes No
- 6. Joint pain Yes No
- 7. Loss of appetite Yes No
- 8. Frequent feeling sick or dizzy Yes No
- 9. Easy tiredness for no apparent reason Yes No
- 10. Swollen belly Yes No
All of these symptoms are more frequent in hepatitis A, B, D and E, and are not common in cases of hepatitis C, which can often be found only in routine blood tests. In the most severe cases, in addition to these symptoms there may also be swelling on the right side of the belly, as the liver makes a greater effort to work, which leads to an increase in its size.
When should I go to the doctor
It is important to see a doctor when more than one of these symptoms appear, especially if you have yellow skin and eyes, dark urine and light stools, swelling in the belly and upper right abdominal pain.
In these cases, the doctor orders blood tests, ultrasound or computed tomography to confirm the diagnosis and correctly guide the treatment. Find out which tests assess the liver.
How to get Hepatitis
Hepatitis can be transmitted in several ways and the main forms of contagion include:
- Contact with contaminated blood; Contact with feces with the virus; Unprotected intimate contact; Use of public toilets; Ingestion of contaminated food; Lack of hygiene; Contact with handles, flushes and taps in public places; Use of non-sterile materials for tattooing, piercings or to make the nail for example; Raw food or rare meat.
Watch the following video, in which nutritionist Tatiana Zanin talks to Dr. Drauzio Varella about how to prevent and treat hepatitis A, B and C:
These are the most common forms of contagion of hepatitis A, B, C, D, E, F, G, chronic and contagious, as they are contagious and can be easily transmitted. On the other hand, medicated hepatitis and autoimmune hepatitis are types of hepatitis that are not contagious, and can arise from causes such as alcohol or drug abuse, autoimmune diseases or due to a genetic predisposition to have the disease. Learn how to prevent hepatitis.
Treatment varies according to the type of hepatitis, the severity of the lesions and the form of contagion. However, in most cases the treatment is started with rest, hydration and a balanced diet with low fats. Know the treatment for each type of hepatitis.
