Dark urine, nausea, abdominal pain? Get checked for hepatitis, it is more dangerous than you think

By Dr Sudeep Khanna

Hepatitis is a disease of liver in which the organ becomes inflamed due to viral and bacterial infections, autoimmune disorder, overweight, alcohol, and certain allopathic and ayurvedic drugs.

Depending on the duration of liver inflammation, the hepatitis may be acute or chronic. Chronic liver injury leads to cirrhosis along with its associated complications and liver cancer.


There are five unique hepatitis viruses - A, B, C, D, and E.

Hepatitis: In numbers
According to World Health Organisation, the South-East Asia Region, which includes India, has an estimated 39 million people living with chronic hepatitis B, and 10 million people with chronic hepatitis C. Viral hepatitis causes as many as deaths annually compared to TB, AIDS, or malaria. Mortality due to viral hepatitis is increasing with time.

Causes
Hepatitis A and E (HAV/HEV) spread through contaminated food and water. Hepatitis B and C (HBV/HCV) can cause be transmitted through bodily fluids. In chronic infection, the virus persists in body causing slow liver damage without any problem to the patient until it's very late.

The above viruses contribute to a large percent of people suffering from hepatitis. These viruses spread through communicable means - contaminated food and water, sexual intercourse with an infected person, direct contact with infected blood, unscreened blood transfusions, sharing needles with drug addicts, and sharing razors or toothbrushes with infected people (HBV/HCV). Hepatitis B can also be transmitted by an infected mother to her new-born during delivery and the child's first few growing years.

Hepatitis A and E spreads through unsanitary conditions where the food and water get contaminated by the faecal matter of the infected person. The infection spreads when this food/water is consumed by the healthy person.

There are other causes of hepatitis like Alcoholic hepatitis and Autoimmune hepatitis. Alcoholic hepatitis is caused by excessive alcohol consumption, which damages the liver. In the case of Autoimmune hepatitis, the immune system mistakes the liver as a foreign organ and begins to injure it.

These viruses do not spread through air or casual contact like handshake or hug.

Symptoms
Hepatitis B is referred to as a 'silent epidemic'. Most of the people do not experience symptoms of Hepatitis B when newly infected. Common signs and symptoms of any acute hepatitis, including HBV infection include yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and joint and muscle pain.

Alcoholic hepatitis can cause permanent liver damage, and lead to liver failure and cirrhosis.

Autoimmune hepatitis causes ongoing inflammation that can range from mild to severe, often hindering liver function. It's three times more common in women than in men.

Prevention & Treatment
- Immunisation at the early age is the key step for prevention against HAV and HBV infection.
- In general, people of all ages should wash hands diligently after going to the bathroom and before handling or eating food.
- While having sexual intercourse, use condoms as it may lower the risk of transmission.
- Do not share drug needles and destroy them after one-time use.
- Avoid sharing personal items such as toothbrushes, razors and nail clippers with an infected person.

(The author is senior consultant - Gastroenterology at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals)

Be Cautious This Season: Superfoods To Boost Immunity And Keep You Healthy

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Monsoon is here and so are the diseases. The change in season can result in various viral infections, flus and poor health conditions.

The tricky season can lead to various health problems like sore throat, itchy nose, sneeze, ceaseless cough, common cold, and many water-borne diseases like typhoid, gastroenteritis, food poisoning, diarrhoea, malaria and dengue.

While regular exercising and staying hydrated is important, it is crucial to consume the right foods to strengthen your immunity and beat the illness this season.

Dolly Kumar, founder and director of Gaia; Eesha Kanade, Obino's health coach; Luke Coutinho, MD in alternative medicine & holistic nutritionist; and holistic health guru Dr Mickey Mehta share a list of best immunity-boosting foods that will keep you healthy.

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Hony is the best remedy to cure a sore throat. Grate half a ginger, add a spoonful of honey and you have the perfect home-made remedy for sore throat. Rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, it is a great substitute to sugar. It is also cholesterol-free and sodium-free. A spoonful of honey in warm water is one of the perfect ingredients to solve many of your health problems like high blood pressure, blood purification, etc.

Hony is the best remedy to cure a sore throat. Grate half a ginger, add a spoonful of honey and you have the perfect home-made remedy for sore throat. Rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, it ..

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Neem helps boost your immune system while cooling down your body internally. It possesses both anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties that help keep your skin clean, radiant and healthy. Neem also has blood-purifying properties. It helps clear toxins and impurities from the blood leaving you with a strengthened immune system.

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Keeping yourself nourished from the inside is very important. Indulge in a hearty bowl of oats. Rich in dietary fibre and protein, oats are a low-calorie food that keeps you fuller for longer. It also helps manage cholesterol levels, maintain healthy body weight, and reduce the risk of blood sugar and diabetes.

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Green Tea contains powerful anti-oxidants and nutrients that help regulate blood sugar, improve brain function and enhance metabolism. This ’super-drink’ also has essential minerals, bioactive compounds and fat-burning qualities. It also helps in increasing the detoxification process in the body and aids in weight loss.

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Olive oil is a great alternative to regular cooking oil. It is rich in monosaturated fatty-acids and has a light texture that would compliment with your dish perfectly. Packed with anti-oxidants, it also reduces the risk of cancer, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and breast cancer.

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It helps improve gut health, digestion and absorption of nutrients. Yogurt, beet sauerkraut, kefir, garlic and onion are grest probiotic options to consume. It allows the good intestinal bacteria to flourish which further synthesises Vitamin B12 for a healthier gut.

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Garlic is a potent anti-bacterial and anti-viral food, thanks to the naturally present allicin. Consuming a preparation of honey and crushed garlic every morning can keep you healthy and strong.

Garlic is a potent anti-bacterial and anti-viral food, thanks to the naturally present allicin. Consuming a preparation of honey and crushed garlic every morning can keep you healthy and strong.

Carrot contains high level of beta-carotene which acts as an antioxidant. It is a good detoxifier and has the ability to regenerate enzymes in the liver.

Carrot contains high level of beta-carotene which acts as an antioxidant. It is a good detoxifier and has the ability to regenerate enzymes in the liver.

Make sure you consume dates, apricots, groundnuts, almonds, pine nuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and others regularly for a healthier life. They are rich in Omega-3, zinc and magnesium which helps boost immunity. It also enables absorption of fat soluble vitamins like A, D, E, K .

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