General practitioner Olga Sharkhun: a person with existing hepatitis can feel quite well.
Hepatitis is a general term for a disease characterized by inflammation of the liver. One of the most characteristic signs of hepatitis is yellowing of the skin and sclera of the eyes – this occurs due to impaired liver function and the accumulation of bile pigment bilirubin in the tissues. Doctor Sharkhun recalled that there are latent forms of hepatitis, in which there is no obvious deterioration in health and there are no complaints of specific ailments.
“Only 10% of hepatitis cases occur in the form of jaundice. Most often, it can manifest itself in the form of weakness, increased fatigue, periodic nausea. A person can feel fine and not know that he has hepatitis,” the doctor said in a comment to RIA Novosti.
There are several types of hepatitis, which are caused by different viruses – these are types A, B, C, D and E. Olga Sharkhun added that hepatitis can occur not only as a result of the body being affected by a virus. Its occurrence is also influenced by the abuse of alcohol, drugs, and dietary supplements. A separate form of hepatitis (steatohepatitis) can develop under the influence of existing obesity.
What is the danger of hepatitis. Viral infectious hepatitis B and C are diseases – “silent killers”: if left untreated, a person develops cirrhosis of the liver, and then cancer.
Earlier, the MedikForum.ru portal wrote about which people develop cirrhosis of the liver faster when drinking alcohol.
Important! Information is provided for reference purposes. Ask a specialist about contraindications and side effects and do not self-medicate under any circumstances. At the first signs of illness, consult a doctor.
Olga Sharkhun Health therapist, gastroenterologist, general practitioner