There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A. Most patients have a complete recovery with supportive treatment that aimed at maintaining comfort and adequate nutritional balance, including replacement of fluids. The liver may be severely affected in a few cases. Persons recovered from the infection develop lifelong immunity against the infection. Hepatitis A does not cause chronic liver disease.
People with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) require regular monitoring. Doctor may perform tests such as liver function tests, alpha-fetoprotein, amount of virus, and ultrasonographic liver examination etc. These will guide clinical management, including the use of antiviral drugs.
Not every person with chronic hepatitis B needs to be on medication.
The antiviral medication must be taken as prescribed. Do NOT stop the medication even when the viral replication being suppressed and liver function restoring to normal. Hepatitis will likely reactivate and may cause liver failure or even death, if the anti-viral medication is stopped inappropriately.
Antiviral drugs are able to suppress hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and thereby reduce virus-induced liver damage. Examples of first-line antivirals include entecavir and tenofovir. Consult the doctor for the appropriateness of these drugs.
For people with CHB who require immunosuppressive therapy, such as high dose steroid or chemotherapy, the doctor will decide whether treatment is needed to protect the liver.
Today, the vast majority of hepatitis C infection can be cured through treatment. Traditional drug treatment for hepatitis C includes pegylated interferon and ribavirin. The cure rate is about 60%. Besides, oral "direct-acting antivirals" treatment usually takes 8 to 12 weeks. These medicines are not only better tolerated, but also more effective. They can achieve cure rates of above 95%. With successful elimination of virus, the risk of liver damage and development of liver cancer will be significantly reduced.
The goal of hepatitis C therapy is to clear your blood of the hepatitis C virus (HCV).
A sustained virologic response (SVR) occurs when your blood tests continue to show no detectable hepatitis C virus (HCV RNA) in 12 or 24 weeks or more after treatment.
When you have achieved SVR, you are considered to be cured. You do not have to worry about transmitting the virus to anyone else.
There is currently no cure for hepatitis D. Current guidelines generally recommend taking pegylated interferon alpha for at least 48 weeks to reduce the risk of disease progression.
There is no specific treatment capable of altering the course of acute hepatitis E. As hepatitis E is usually self-limiting, most patients recover in 1 to 6 weeks with supportive treatment and bed rest. In most cases, chronic infection does not occur. However, cases of chronic hepatitis E infection have been reported in immunosuppressed people, who may require antiviral drugs for viral clearance.