Hepatitis Screening (8)

Hepatitis is a disease that causes inflammation of  the liver. Since the liver is responsible for processing nutrients, blood filtration, and protection from infections, liver dysfunction can adversely affect the entire body.

Exposure to infectious and non-infectious agents may lead to a range of hepatitis occurrence. Alcohol intake, underlying health conditions and medications can cause the disease, including autoimmune hepatitis.

However, it usually occurs due to infection from hepatitis virus called hepatovirus with five different strains, i.e. A, B, C, D and E. Depending on the duration of the virus exposure, hepatitis infection can be acute or chronic.

The five main viral categories of hepatitis include: 

• Hepatitis A: It occurs due to exposure to the hepatitis A virus or HAV through a contaminated object. It is commonly spread by consuming food items containing traces of excretory substances of the Hepatitis positive patient. Usually, this is a short-term disease which can be treated with normal medication. 
• Hepatitis B: It is a chronic version of Hepatitis which spreads by contact with fluid of an infected person. Such contact may involve blood transfusion, sexual intercourse, saliva exchange, and needle sharing. Patients generally recover from hepatitis B, but it can turn serious if not treated timely. 
• Hepatitis C: Like hepatitis B, the condition spreads via contact with fluid of an infected person. In most cases, the hepatitis C infection becomes a chronic disease, which can turn into cirrhosis and liver cancer.
• Hepatitis D: This is a rare condition that is caused by hepatitis D virus. It usually affects people who are already infected with hepatitis B. The native population, hemodialysis recipients and people who frequently inject drugs are in the high-risk category.
• Hepatitis E: This is a waterborne disease that spreads through exposure to stool leading to short-term illness.

Usually, the condition can be treated with medications and isn't complicated. However, in pregnant women, elderly citizens and immunocompromised patients, this can turn fatal.

Upon exposure, the patient exhibits a range of symptoms which prompts a medical practitioner to order a hepatitis panel test. The primary signs that demand urgent treatment are:

• Fatigue
• Abdominal pain 
• Loss of appetite
• Dark urine
• Flu-like symptoms

Which tests are available for Hepatitis Screening?

• Liver Function Test (LFT): Also Known as Hepatic Function Test, it is a comprehensive package to assess the function of your liver by examining the levels of various enzymes and proteins in your blood. 
• Anti HCV: This test is used for screening and diagnosis of a person likely to be infected with the hepatitis C virus.
• HBsAg Screening(Rapid):  Also known as Hepatitis B Testing, this test helps to screen and diagnose Hepatitis B virus infection, and helps to detect previous Hepatitis B infection which had been resolved.
• HCV Tri Dot:  it is a rapid, visual, sensitive and qualitative in vitro diagnostic test for the detection of antibodies to Hepatitis C Virus in human serum or plasma.
• HBsAg Confirmatory Test: This test helps to confirm the presence of Hepatitis B surface antigen in the blood.
• Hepatitis B Surface Antibody (Anti-HBS): This test is primarily used to screen and diagnose acute and chronic infection or acquired immunity from HBV vaccination.
• HBsAg / Australia Antigen: This test is helpful for the diagnosis of acute, recent and chronic HBV infection. It also determines the status of chronic Hepatitis B infection.

Apollo 24|7 provides advanced tools and technology to provide a comprehensive screening option for hepatitis.

Along with the convenient diagnosis, the patients can also benefit from the features like at-home sample collection, centralized medical records, access to health products and so on.