Is viral hepatitis hereditary?

Written by Zhang Jian Kang
Infectious Disease
Updated on April 12, 2025
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Viral hepatitis is not hereditary, but it is a contagious disease, and the risk of transmission is relatively high if living together. Among them, hepatitis A and hepatitis E are types of acute hepatitis, which are self-limiting, so they do not significantly affect the next generation. However, liver damage caused by viruses such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C and liver inflammation may lead to disease in the next generation. If maternal and neonatal transmission is effectively blocked, then the risk of disease can be greatly reduced. Nowadays, most standard hospitals can perform maternal and neonatal blockade. Therefore, it is crucial for pregnant women to have regular medical check-ups and pre-pregnancy screenings to reduce the risk of transmitting to the next generation.

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How should viral hepatitis be treated with dietary therapy?

The diet of patients with viral hepatitis should be tailored to their specific conditions. They should eat light and easily digestible foods that are also nutritious. It is important to avoid overly spicy, moldy, or greasy foods. The variety of food should be rich and nutritionally balanced, with meals distributed reasonably. If the viral hepatitis is particularly severe, the intake of some proteins may be restricted. Moreover, treatment and management should be specific to the individual's condition, with regular follow-ups.

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What are the symptoms of viral hepatitis?

The clinical manifestations of viral hepatitis primarily include impaired liver function, characterized by fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, etc. Some patients with viral hepatitis may also exhibit jaundice of the skin and sclera, dark urine, and itchy skin. Additionally, a majority of patients may only experience a decrease in energy without other symptoms.

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How to prevent viral hepatitis

Viral hepatitis is a class of diseases that specifically includes five types: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, and hepatitis E. Each type has a different mode of transmission, hence the prevention methods vary for each. Specifically, hepatitis A and E are transmitted via the fecal-oral route, meaning the disease is mainly spread through consuming water and cold foods contaminated with the viruses, and foods that have not been fully cooked, leading to infection. Hepatitis B and C, on the other hand, are mainly transmitted through blood and sexual contact. Prevention of hepatitis B and C involves avoiding contact with blood products from infected individuals and unsafe sexual practices.

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What are the indicators for viral hepatitis testing?

Viral hepatitis can be confirmed for infection through tests such as hepatitis B "two and a half pairs," hepatitis A antibodies, hepatitis C antibodies, and hepatitis E antibodies. By using the hepatitis B "two and a half pairs" test to look for the hepatitis B surface antigen, if the surface antigen is positive, it indicates infection with the hepatitis B virus. The hepatitis A antibody test primarily assesses for hepatitis A antibody IGM; if this is positive, it suggests an active infection. Through the hepatitis C antibody test, if positive, further testing for hepatitis C virus RNA can be conducted. The hepatitis E antibody test mainly looks at hepatitis E antibody IGM, and the interpretation should be based on the specific circumstances.

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What are the hazards of viral hepatitis?

Viral hepatitis can be categorized based on its cause into hepatitis A, B, C, E, and D. For hepatitis A and E, it is generally acute and usually has a good prognosis without severe consequences. However, hepatitis B and C often lead to chronic hepatitis, progressing into chronic viral hepatitis, then to cirrhosis and even liver cancer, which can affect quality of life and lifespan.