Type “liver” on any search engine and one of the first things that pops up is the amazing fact that it’s the only organ in the human body capable of regenerating itself to its normal size— even after 90 percent of it has been removed!
But that’s not its only superpower. Acting as a filter, it rids the blood of toxic substances like alcohol and drugs, and old red blood cells. The second largest organ after the skin, the liver processes carbohydrates, proteins, and fats that we tap into when needed, and stores glycogen, which we draw upon during physical activities. Bile to digest the food we eat is produced by the liver, as is prothrombin, a protein that clots blood.
“I always tell my patients that the liver is a silent organ. It’s very patient,” says Eternity Labio, MD, a Hepatology Specialist at Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed). “The liver has a lot of vital functions, but it’s a very silent and hard worker.”
Patient and hard-working as it is, the liver is not infallible. Consume copious amounts of alcohol, and you set yourself up for cirrhosis (or scarring) of the liver, damaging it to the point that it is no longer able to function.
And then there is hepatitis, or the inflammation of the liver. “Hepatitis has many causes, but the most common cause is infection by the hepatitis virus,” explains Dr. Labio. “It can also be caused by fatty liver, excessive alcohol drinking, or certain medications.”
As such, there are five (5) types of hepatitis, each with their own causes, treatment, and prognosis.
Hepatitis A
Are your skin and the whites of your eyes a shade of yellow? Is your pee dark and your poop a clayish color? Do you have pain on your right side, particularly below your lower ribs? Then you might have Hepatitis A. Caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV), it’s transmitted by consuming food or drink contaminated with the stool infected with HAV. Being intimate with someone with Hepatitis A, even if that person is asymptomatic, can also spread the virus.
“Hepatitis A is usually a mild infection,” shares Dr. Labio. “If you’re healthy and have no underlying conditions, you will recover well.” A vaccine for Hepatitis A given within two weeks of exposure to the virus may stave off infection. Otherwise, doctors recommend you stay home and rest until the jaundice (or yellowing of your skin) clears, and hydrate regularly with sips of water and clear soup to address feelings of nausea.
Hepatitis B
According to a Global Hepatitis Report published by the World Health Organization, the Philippines ranked eighth among countries with the highest number of Hepatitis B infections in 2022. “One in 10 Filipinos are infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV)—and they do not know that they are infected because most patients have no symptoms. They feel healthy and good,” says the MakatiMed Hepatology Specialist.
Symptoms like jaundice, dark urine, light-colored poop, and pain where the liver is located don’t always present early, so the only way to find out if you’re infected is through a blood test. A series of vaccines can protect those at risk from Hepatitis B for up to 20 years.
Passing HBV through sexual contact, shared needles, or from a mother to her newborn baby is how Hepatitis B spreads. Like Hepatitis A, it takes a few months to recover from Hepatitis B. Still, if your immune system isn’t strong enough to fight the infection, you may develop chronic Hepatitis B, which puts you at risk for cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer.
“Liver Cancer is the second leading cancer killer among the Filipinos. And this is because of Hepatitis B that was left untreated, not diagnosed early,” notes Dr. Labio. “We’ve been seeing patients who have liver cancer, only to find out later that they’re positive for Hepatitis B.”
Hepatitis C
Blood infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and passed through shared needles, transfusions, and unsanitary medical procedures is how people get Hepatitis C. Like Hepatitis B, it can take a while before symptoms like jaundice, bruising and bleeding easily, and swelling in the legs appear. Luckily, the newer antiviral drugs available are effective at treating Hepatitis C, even in its chronic stage.
“Unlike Hepatitis B, which has no cure and requires you to take an antiviral for life, with Hepatitis C, you can be cured after taking an antiviral for three months,” reveals Dr. Labio.
Hepatitis D
Diagnosed with Hepatitis B? Then you could get Hepatitis D, the virus of which spreads through infected blood and bodily fluid. “Hepatitis D needs Hepatitis B to survive,” says Dr. Labio.
There is no vaccine to protect you against the hepatitis D virus, so prevention is your best bet. “Don’t share personal items like a toothbrush and razor. Ask your doctor about getting the Hepatitis B vaccine. And take care of your liver—avoid alcohol and follow a healthy diet,” the doctor reminds.
Hepatitis E
Like Hepatitis A, Hepatitis E is passed through food and water containing fecal matter contaminated with the hepatitis E virus (HEV). You can also get it by consuming undercooked meat from animals infected with HEV. It takes weeks of rest and a regular intake of fluids to fully recover from Hepatitis E. Because it’s more prevalent in less-developed countries, exercise caution to avoid infection. Be careful with what and where you eat and drink and make handwashing with soap and water a habit, as there is currently no vaccine against Hepatitis E.
Hepatitis vaccinations are available at MakatiMed HealthHub, MakatiMed Wellness Center, and the hospital’s Liver Unit, as are diagnostic tests to check for liver health: blood tests, ultrasound, and elastography, an imaging test that can detect stiffness (and thus scarring) in the liver.
“January is Liver Cancer and Viral Hepatitis Awareness and Prevention Month, and it was declared to spread knowledge of hepatitis, because this is not a rare condition,” stresses Dr. Labio. “Filipinos should be aware of the condition of their liver and protect themselves and their family. Try to maintain your ideal weight, have yourself tested for Hepatitis B and C, and avoid excess alcohol drinking.”
Article based on the Doctors on TV episode “Preventing Hepatitis: The Importance of Vaccination and Good Practices last January 21, 2023.
For issues involving the liver, consult with a Gastroenterology Specialist or a Hepatology Specialist. Find a MakatiMed doctor here. You may also reach us via MakatiMed On-Call at (+632) 8888 8999 or at [email protected] for any assistance.
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