What are the types of viral hepatitis?

Written by Zhang Jian Kang

Infectious Disease

Updated on October 22, 2024

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Viral hepatitis, in terms of etiology, mainly includes hepatitis caused by several viruses such as Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis D, Hepatitis E, non-A, and non-E.

In terms of clinical classification, it mainly includes five types: acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, liver failure, cholestatic hepatitis, and hepatitis cirrhosis.

Among them, Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E can easily cause acute hepatitis, and Hepatitis B can also lead to the occurrence of acute hepatitis. The most common types of chronic hepatitis are Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, which can progress to cirrhosis if not promptly controlled. Liver failure can be caused by these viruses as well, with liver failure caused by Hepatitis B being the most common.

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Written by Zhang Jian Kang

Infectious Disease

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Dietary care for viral hepatitis

Patients with viral hepatitis generally have noticeable gastrointestinal discomfort symptoms, such as fatigue, poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, and bloating after eating. Therefore, it is advisable for patients with viral hepatitis to maintain a low-fat, light diet. Vegetables and fruits are fine to consume, but greasy foods, such as meat, are not recommended. If meat is desired, white meats like fish are preferable, while red meats are advised against. If viral hepatitis is accompanied by other diseases such as hepatic encephalopathy, it is recommended not to consume soy products and eggs. Patients with viral hepatitis often have concurrent gallbladder diseases, so consuming eggs or greasy foods may exacerbate symptoms and cause significant upper abdominal discomfort.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

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Can you eat eggs with viral hepatitis?

Patients with viral hepatitis can generally eat some eggs when their condition is relatively mild and there are no obvious symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy or hepatic coma. However, if the symptoms are particularly severe, and there is hepatic encephalopathy or even hepatic coma, it is necessary to restrict protein intake. The diet for viral hepatitis should be tailored to the actual situation, consuming light, easily digestible and absorbable foods. It is important to avoid overly greasy, irritating, or moldy foods. The variety of foods should be rich and nutritionally balanced, and the treatment should be targeted.

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Written by Zhang Jian Kang

Infectious Disease

58sec

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How is viral hepatitis transmitted?

Viral hepatitis comes in many types, with its main pathogens including hepatitis A, B, C, D, E, and others. Each type targets different transmission pathways; for example, hepatitis A and E are primarily transmitted via the digestive tract. They can spread through fecal-oral transmission, and ingesting contaminated food can lead to the dissemination of hepatitis A or E. For hepatitis B, the main transmission routes include mother-to-child transmission, blood and body fluid transmission, and close personal contact can also lead to the transmission of hepatitis B. As for hepatitis C, the primary transmission method is through transfusion of blood or blood products, and patients on dialysis are a high-risk group for hepatitis C infection.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

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Do you need a blood transfusion for viral hepatitis?

Viral hepatitis, especially in cases where the condition is particularly severe, bilirubin levels are particularly high, and coagulation function is particularly poor, may require plasma treatment. This involves the administration of plasma and nutritional support as symptomatic supportive therapy. Some patients may also need plasma exchange and artificial liver treatment. The treatment of viral hepatitis should aim to remove the cause of the disease as much as possible while also strengthening liver protection and enzyme reduction therapies. Severe cases may require plasma treatment. Treatment decisions should be based on the actual situation and starting treatment early in the onset of the disease can stabilize most conditions.

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Written by Zhang Jian Kang

Infectious Disease

49sec

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What fruits to eat for viral hepatitis?

Viral hepatitis patients can eat most fruits as there are not many restrictions, and fruits generally are good to eat. Fruits contain a high amount of vitamins, especially vitamin C, which can help repair the liver when consumed by patients. However, for some special patients, especially those with cirrhosis or liver failure who are at risk of bleeding, or even after a significant gastrointestinal bleeding, eating hard, difficult-to-digest fruits is not beneficial for recovery. Consuming hard fruits might exacerbate bleeding, and eating hard-to-digest fruits might lead to symptoms such as upper abdominal discomfort, poor appetite, and nausea or vomiting after eating.