Condition Lookup

Hepatitis B

Sub-category: Chronic Viral Hepatitis

Symptoms:
fatigue; loss of appetite; nausea; jaundice; dark urine; joint pain; abdominal pain

Root Cause:
Infection with the Hepatitis B virus (HBV), which can cause both acute and chronic liver inflammation, leading to liver damage.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests for HBsAg (surface antigen), anti-HBc antibodies, and HBV DNA; liver function tests.

Treatment:
Treated with antiviral medications such as tenofovir or entecavir to suppress viral replication, alongside interferon therapy in select cases, and supportive care, with monitoring for liver function and complications.

Medications:
Nucleos(t)ide analogs (e.g., entecavir , tenofovir ) to inhibit viral replication. Interferon-alpha injections to boost the immune response.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects over 296 million people worldwide; common in Asia and Africa.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Unprotected sex, needle-sharing, perinatal transmission, healthcare worker exposure.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Acute cases often resolve; chronic cases may progress to cirrhosis or liver cancer without treatment.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver failure.

Hepatitis C

Specialty: Infectious Diseases

Category: Liver Infections

Sub-category: Chronic Viral Hepatitis

Symptoms:
fatigue; nausea; loss of appetite; jaundice; dark urine; joint pain; abdominal pain

Root Cause:
Infection with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV), often leading to chronic liver inflammation and scarring.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests for anti-HCV antibodies and HCV RNA, liver function tests.

Treatment:
Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) to cure the infection.

Medications:
DAAs (e.g., sofosbuvir , ledipasvir , velpatasvir ) targeting viral proteins for replication. Ribavirin (in combination in certain cases).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects over 58 million people worldwide; common in intravenous drug users.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Needle-sharing, blood transfusions (before 1992), healthcare exposure, tattoos or piercings with unsterilized equipment.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Highly curable with DAAs in 8–12 weeks; untreated, it may progress to cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, portal hypertension.

Hepatitis D

Specialty: Infectious Diseases

Category: Liver Infections

Sub-category: Chronic Viral Hepatitis

Symptoms:
fatigue; nausea; jaundice; dark urine; abdominal pain; joint pain

Root Cause:
Co-infection or superinfection with the Hepatitis D virus (HDV) in individuals already infected with Hepatitis B. HDV requires HBV to replicate.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests for anti-HDV antibodies and HDV RNA, liver function tests.

Treatment:
Pegylated interferon-alpha; no specific antiviral therapy.

Medications:
Pegylated interferon-alpha to suppress viral replication; supportive care.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Estimated 5–10% of individuals with HBV are co-infected with HDV.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Same as Hepatitis B, especially intravenous drug use and unprotected sex.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Worse than HBV alone; higher risk of progression to cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver failure.