Hepatitis, also known as liver inflammation, can occur with symptoms such as weakness, darkening of urine color, yellowing of skin color and whites of the eyes, lightening of stool color, sometimes fever, loss of appetite, rapid fatigue. Stating that hepatitis is a curable disease, experts point to the importance of hygienic conditions and emphasize that materials such as nail clippers, razors and toothbrushes should not be used in common.

July 28 is commemorated every year as World Hepatitis Day. July 28, the day on which "HBsAg", the surface antigen of viral hepatitis B, was found, played a major role in the discovery of a cure for hepatitis B. The World Health Organization decided to commemorate this day as "World Hepatitis Day".

Hepatitis is a curable disease

Üsküdar University NPISTANBUL Hospital Infectious Diseases Specialist Specialist. Dr. Yakup Hakan Başaran gave information about Hepatitis. Stating that hepatitis is the Latin name of liver inflammation, Uzm. Dr. Yakup Hakan Başaran said, "In general, it is a disease that can be completely cured thanks to the liver's ability to renew itself, but sometimes it can become chronic and cause complications up to cancer formation."

Treatment methods are different according to types

Uzm. Dr. Yakup Hakan Başaran said the following: "Although when we think of hepatitis, we think of a group of diseases caused by a group of viruses called hepatitis viruses with subtypes such as A, B, C, D, E, there may also be bacterial, parasitic, fungal, and even chemical (drug side effects, poisoning) liver damage. Although they have common clinical symptoms, their treatment and follow-up processes are different from each other, and the discussion of the disease is mostly based on viral hepatitis."

Pay attention to these symptoms!

Providing information about the symptoms of hepatitis, Uzm. Dr. Yakup Hakan Başaran said, "In general, there are symptoms such as weakness, darkening in urine color, yellowing of the skin color, yellowing of the whites of the eyes, lightening of the stool color, sometimes fever, loss of appetite, rapid fatigue, discomfort from some odors, constipation. Depending on the severity of the inflammation in the liver and the amount of intact liver tissue, findings such as itching and skin bleeding may also be observed."

Beware of shared materials!

Speaking about the risk factors related to the disease, Uzm. Dr. Yakup Hakan Başaran drew attention to the common use of tools such as toothbrushes, razors and nail clippers and gave the following warnings:

"Since we are talking about viral hepatitis in general, it is useful to determine the risks in groups. Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E are transmitted by eating and drinking food and water contaminated with the virus, defined as fecal-oral. Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Hepatitis D, on the other hand, can be transmitted through blood, sexual contact, direct contact through skin with compromised integrity and placenta from mother to baby. In general, Hepatitis B and D are transmitted through blood and sexual contact, while Hepatitis C is transmitted through drug use and tattooing, which prepare the environment for the use of common materials. In other words, contaminated water and food contaminated with this water, sexual contact with the sick person, contact with the blood and body fluids of the sick person are the main risk factors, and the common use of materials such as toothbrushes, razors and nail scissors are also risk factors."

There are protective vaccines

Stating that in some cases, the body's immune system overcomes the disease, only supportive treatment is given, while in others, drug treatment is essential, Uzm. Dr. Yakup Hakan Başaran said that treatment possibilities are still being investigated in a small group of patients. Başaran emphasized that the patient should be examined by a specialist physician to find out which group the existing disease is in.

Hygiene conditions must be followed

Pointing out that there are protective vaccines for hepatitis A, hepatitis E and hepatitis B, Uzm. Dr. Yakup Hakan Başaran said, "However, in general, compliance with hygiene conditions, avoiding the use of common materials containing blood and body fluids, sanitization of food is largely sufficient for protection. Patients who notice the symptoms are strongly advised to seek help from a specialist doctor."