Hepatitis Specialist

What is hepatitis?

Hepatitis is liver inflammation, or swelling, that occurs when body tissues get infected or injured. When left untreated, hepatitis can damage your liver and negatively affect the way it functions. Hepatitis may cause short-term infections, long-term problems, or both.

What are the symptoms of hepatitis?

Hepatitis may cause some of the following symptoms: 

• Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice)
• Abdominal pain
• Dark-colored urine
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue
• Fever 
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Joint pain
• Clay-colored bowel movements

You could have symptoms two to six weeks after you’ve been infected with hepatitis. If you have a chronic hepatitis infection, the symptoms may not appear until several years later. 

Complications linked with untreated hepatitis include scarring of your liver (cirrhosis), liver cancer, and liver failure. The earlier you get treated for hepatitis, the better the outcome.

Who is at risk of hepatitis?

Common risk factors for getting hepatitis include:

• Having unprotected sexual intercourse
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Poisoning or chemicals
• Some dietary supplements
• Certain medications
• Problems with your body’s immune system

Different types of hepatitis include hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Contaminated food or water can cause hepatitis A and E. Undercooked shellfish, deer, or pork may cause hepatitis E. 

You can contract hepatitis B, C, and D from contact with the blood of an infected person. Contact with body fluids though sexual intercourse or sharring needles are also ways you might contract hepatitis.

Can I reduce my risk of hepatitis?

You can do several things to reduce your risk of getting hepatitis. Avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol, practice safe sex, and get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B. However, you can’t protect against getting autoimmune hepatitis.

How does my doctor diagnose hepatitis?

To find out if you have hepatitis and how to treat it, Dr. Prasad reviews your medical history and your symptoms. He checks your vital signs, completes a physical exam, and may recommend blood tests, ultrasounds, CT scans, MRIs, or other imaging procedures. In some cases, he completes a liver biopsy to look for signs of liver damage.

How is hepatitis treated?

The hepatitis treatment that’s best for you depends on the type of hepatitis you have and whether or not you experience complications associated with it. Based on the type and its severity, Dr. Prasad may recommend:

• Rest and fluids
• Avoiding alcohol
• Medications
• Hospital treatments
• Surgical procedures
• Liver transplant 

If you have liver cancer, you may need radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation, injections, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. 

To learn more about hepatitis treatment, schedule an appointment with Ishwari Prasad, MD, PhD, PA in Tampa or Brandon, Florida, by phone or online today.