Regular screening tests play an essential role in preventing infections like hepatitis that are harmful to your liver. Hepatitis is a viral infection that affects your liver and reduces its functionality. It has several types, which cause somewhat similar symptoms but have different characteristics like severity and long-term complications. Regular testing helps you detect and manage these infections even before they start harming your liver and causing symptoms which make them easier to treat. That’s why you must know the role of regular testing to manage liver health in this article. Log on to www.doralhw.org for a consultation.

Role of hepatitis tests

The main purpose of hepatitis tests is to diagnose hepatitis, evaluate the liver, and find out the underlying cause of hepatitis:

  • Screening for viral hepatitis infection: Screening involves testing to find diseases even before the person starts showing symptoms. Hepatitis tests are commonly used to screen for two types of viral hepatitis – hepatitis B and C, in some populations.
  • Diagnose the underlying cause of hepatitis: Usually, hepatitis testing is used to find the underlying cause of inflammation in the liver or liver damage. Testing can determine whether a person is infected with viral hepatitis or not, if he/she is infected with the hepatitis is acute or chronic, and how contagious the viral hepatitis is.
  • Assessing immunity to viral hepatitis: After a patient recovers from a certain type of viral hepatitis, which may include hepatitis A or B, their body develops protective antibodies that make them immune to future infections. Hepatitis testing allows doctors to understand if a patient developed immunity based on a past infection or successful vaccination.
  • Guiding treatment for hepatitis: Hepatitis testing may be recommended to find the most appropriate treatment for hepatitis. Testing can also help to detect hepatitis complications and how your patient’s body responds to treatment.

Who needs testing?

Testing is required when you think you were exposed to any type of viral hepatitis or live in a hepatitis-prone area. Besides, early screening tests for hepatitis B and C help to detect these infections earlier before any symptoms develop, which makes them easier to treat. Screening for viral hepatitis also reduces damage to the liver and helps to prevent the spreading of hepatitis to others.

Your doctor can recommend screened tests based on your age, sex, family history, and other risk factors. Screening recommendations may include:

  • Screening for hepatitis B: This screening is recommended for people who are at risk of contracting HBV. People like pregnant women, people born in areas where hepatitis B is more common, people who didn’t receive a hepatitis B vaccine, HIV-positive people, users of injectable drugs, and people at risk of HBV infection due to some sexual practices can get benefits from this screening.
  • Screening for hepatitis C: All adults over 18 should take screening for hepatitis C once in a while, except if you live in areas where the rate of HCV is low. During each pregnancy and periodically for patients with risk factors for HCV infection screening is recommended. Risk factors for HCV include current or past injectable drug use, history of a blood transfusion or organ transplant before July 1992, being on kidney dialysis, having needles contact at work, work or living in a prison, being born from a mother who’s infected with hepatitis C, infected with HIV, or engaging in unprotected sexual practices.

Hepatitis testing is also recommended for people who experience symptoms of liver damage or abnormal liver functions. However, many people may have few or no symptoms of acute hepatitis. When symptoms may happen, it may include:

  • Fever
  • Tiredness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Skin and eyes colored yellow.
  • Dark-colored urine
  • Pale-colored stool

Chronic and non-infectious hepatitis can cause a wide range of symptoms which can affect almost any body system. Symptoms may include:

  • Fatigue
  • Low-grade fever
  • Acne
  • Feeling unwell
  • Weight loss
  • Discomfort in the upper abdomen
  • Absence of menstruation cycle

“Your health is in your hands, so ensure its safety by taking a screening test to prevent the risk of infections.” Need help with hepatitis infection, visit our infectious doctors in Brooklyn clinic to get professional treatment. Don’t make your body suffer more from the infection, get professional help by visiting our infectious disease specialists in our Brooklyn clinic. They listen to your concerns and treat you accordingly. Get free tips on how to stay safe from infectious diseases. Call us on +1-347-384-5690. If you need any information on infections, log on to www.doralhw.org  to get a consultation. We have the best doctors that can help you and improve your quality of life!