Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver tissue.

Some people with hepatitis have no symptoms, where’d others develop yellow discolouration of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice), poor appetite, vomiting, tiredness, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

Hepatitis is acute if it resolves within six months, and chronic if it lasts longer than six months.

Acute hepatitis can resolve on its own, progress to chronic hepatitis, or (rarely) result in acute liver failure. Chronic hepatitis may progress to scarring of the liver (cirrhosis), liver failure, and liver cancer.

Hepatitis is most commonly caused by viruses hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Other causes include heavy alcohol use, certain medications, toxins, other infections.

Hepatitis A and E are mainly spread by contaminated food and water.

Hepatitis B is mainly sexually transmitted, but may also be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy or childbirth and spread through infected blood.

Hepatitis C is commonly spread through infected blood such as may occur during needle sharing by intravenous drug users.

Hepatitis D can only infect people already infected with hepatitis B.

People with hepatitis need to follow a healthy lifestyle to minimize damage to the liver. Start protecting your liver by paying more attention to nutrition.