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Published on: Sep 08, 2021
4 minute read
By: Dr Rakesh Rai

What Is The Main Cause Of Hepatitis & What Happens If You Have Hepatitis?

What is the main cause of hepatitis & What happens if you have hepatitis?

The virus is the most common cause, but auto-immune hepatitis can also occur when the body's immune system attacks and destroys its own kidney cells. Hepatitis is primarily caused by a virus, but there are many other possibilities. A viral infection is the primary cause of hepatitis. And various types of viruses can lead to hepatitis-- some fairly benign, some very serious—such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).

The main cause of hepatitis is the Hepatitis A virus (HAV). Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) can also cause acute hepatitis, but they are responsible for the majority of chronic cases. Chronic hepatic problems may result in the development of cirrhosis or liver cancer, which can be ultimately fatal. It's also possible for an individual to experience co-infection with HAV and HBB/HCV without knowing it since some people infected with HAV do not show any symptoms.

The human body typically gets rid of the virus in 1-3 months or so without needing any help from drugs or therapies, but about 15% to 40% of people infected with hepatitis A see their symptoms persist for 6 months to 3 years. This can be especially hard on people who are young and otherwise healthy because it often results in interruption of school or work life, not to mention the loss of self-esteem which can damage personal relationships.

Permanently resolving this requires active participation by both doctor and patient; unfortunately, many factors combine to reduce the likelihood that someone will recover completely naturally, including an existing chronic liver disease like cirrhosis (in which case

The main cause of hepatitis is bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and chemical substances that damage the liver. The secondary causes may be alcohol abuse or chronic fatty liver disease.

A damaged or diseased liver can lead to alcoholic cirrhosis and other diseases such as spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and encephalopathy.

Hepatitis refers broadly to any inflammatory disorder involving the liver, a diverse organ having many functions in the body. The immune system's response damages hepatocytes - cells that form bile ducts to remove toxins from the blood, produce clotting proteins for blood clots, store energy from food in glycogen so it can be used later when glucose supply from food runs low after starvation occurs.

Some viruses, but more often a drug or toxin that irritates the liver. Drugs and other toxins that can damage the liver include industrial solvents like ammonia, industrial chemicals like benzene, alcohol, acetaminophen (Tylenol), erythromycin (mostly taken to decrease antibiotic resistance), tetracycline antibiotic with surgery concurrent antibiotics), drugs for prevention of malaria such as chloroquine plus proguanil or mefloquine with surgery concurrent clindamycin plus primaquine) and ursodeoxycholic acid.

In adults, viral hepatitis is the most common cause of infectious chronic liver disease, and it's often spread by close contact. In children, foodborne outbreaks are more common. Your body's immune system is a major cause of hepatitis and can be activated by something like a viral infection.

The key to understanding liver disease comes when you realize that the immune system - via T cells and B cells; NK cells; macrophages and natural killer (NK) cells - create inflammation in your gut which ultimately drains into your liver. And when these "Do-or-Die" T lymphocytes or "natural killer" (NK) cell attacks occur it triggers scarring in various regions of your liver which leads to cirrhosis.

The main cause of hepatitis is viral, but it's important to note that there are two types of hepatic viruses that can cause this condition. The first is Hepatitis A (HAV), which comes from fecal matter and is usually spread by food or water contaminated with infected feces. The second type of virus, Hepatitis B (HBV) comes from blood contact, sexual intercourse, or childbirth; however, both types can be transmitted through blood transfusion or drug use (especially needles). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HAV affects about 150 Americans each year; HBV affects roughly 2 million people annually.

The main cause of hepatitis is the virus. But there are other causes including bad hygiene, drinking contaminated water or using dirty injections needles. Furthermore, the hepatitis viruses may spread from an infected mother carrying the disease to her unborn child before it's even born! That can lead to two very different types of hepatitis - one that has a strong reaction where the pregnant woman develops significant liver damage and another that barely affects her at all. And then of course not surprisingly- people who already have chronic health conditions such as diabetes or cirrhosis (liver scarring) and those with weak immune systems due to age or chemotherapy for cancer patients with low white blood cell counts can be more prone to experiencing a chronic infection.

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. It can be caused by either viruses or toxins, including alcohol and prescription medications. Symptoms may include fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting pain in the right side below the ribs when taking deep breaths. The most common type in America is Hepatitis A which you get from sharing food or drinks that are contaminated with tiny amounts of stool from infected people; also known as "gastroenteritis." Getting vaccinated prevents the most acute form usually found in children

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by viruses, alcohol, medication. With hepatitis A virus - the symptoms are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. The patient may also have jaundice or low levels of proteins within their blood. Hepatitis B virus - It's usually transmitted through contact with infected blood or other sharps objects such as needles. The symptoms can take up to 6 months before showing signs and it may include dark urine and light-colored stools, joint pain in the lower part of arms and legs (joints hurt worse when pressed) personality changes together with depression phase feelings such as irritability or sadness for no reason at all fatigue along with soreness. If the infection is acute then there may be nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and jaundice. If chronic then fatigue, loss of appetite, and liver damage may occur.

We recommend immunization for Hepatitis A with the appropriate protection against Hepatitis B with appropriate protection against Hepatitis C with appropriate protection against Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (genital herpes).

Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver. If you have acute hepatitis, there are often no symptoms associated with it; if you have chronic hepatitis, the most common symptom is fatigue. You can't get Hepatitis from drinking alcohol or eating too much greasy food (unless it's cooked in oil that hasn't been cleaned). You also don't get it by sharing personal items like towels or razors with an infected person.

A person with Hepatitis may feel tired, be pale and lose weight. They may not look sick but can carry the virus that damages their liver. The symptoms of HAV (hepatitis A) last only a few weeks to a couple of months, while symptoms from Hepatitis B can last six months or more; in both cases, there is no specific treatment.

Most people recover fully, and the liver will regain its former function without any need for transplantation or medical intervention in most cases but is often permanently damaged and scarred in others with chronic infections. Hepatitis C sometimes results in severe cirrhosis after decades of infection because it does not cause symptoms until late-stage disease when signs

Hepatitis is an unfortunate and contagious liver disease that we see in at least 500,000 people every year. Hepatitis can be caused by either a virus or a toxin/irritant such as alcohol. Symptoms include jaundice (yellow skin), dark urine, sudden fever that isn't relieved with antibiotics or acetaminophen, abdominal discomfort, and pain that doesn't feel like dysentery - which are hallmarks of the toxic type of hepatitis. Many times, you'll have elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood followed by the destruction of red blood cells due to obstruction of bile ducts if not treated early on.

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Digital Healthcare Automation India: Enabling Smart Workflows, Faster Care, and a Modern Clinical Ecosystem

Digital healthcare automation is redefining how India delivers medical services, manages clinical operations, and coordinates patient journeys. As hospitals, clinics, and digital health platforms move toward technology-driven processes, automation has become essential for ensuring efficiency, reducing manual work, minimizing delays, and improving care accuracy. In a healthcare system where patient volumes are high and specialist availability is uneven, automation empowers organizations to deliver faster, smarter, and more consistent care.

India’s healthcare automation growth aligns with national initiatives like ABDM (Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission), growing telemedicine adoption, rising digital literacy, and the increased use of AI-based medical tools. SecondMedic integrates automation into every stage of digital care-appointments, reporting, monitoring, follow-ups, and preventive health-allowing users and clinicians to experience a seamless, intelligent healthcare ecosystem.

Digital healthcare automation India is not simply about digitizing manual tasks; it is about augmenting healthcare with intelligent workflows that respond to real-time needs. By reducing repetitive workloads, automation allows clinicians to focus on what matters most: patient care.

Why Automation Matters in Indian Healthcare

India faces significant challenges: overloaded outpatient departments, resource shortages, manual data entry errors, delayed reports, and administrative inefficiencies. Automation addresses these issues by introducing structured, rule-based processes supported by AI and digital tools.

Key systemic challenges automation helps solve:

High patient-to-doctor ratios
Slow movement of information across departments
Inconsistent follow-up and monitoring
Manual errors in documentation and reporting
Unpredictable appointment flow
Inadequate time for patient–doctor interaction

Digital automation supports a more organized, reliable, and high-performance healthcare environment.

What Is Digital Healthcare Automation?

Digital healthcare automation refers to the use of AI, software systems, connected devices, and workflow engines to automate medical and administrative procedures. These tools reduce manual intervention wherever possible and ensure accuracy, repeatability, and continuity.

Core areas of automation include:

Appointment management and scheduling
Electronic medical record updates
Auto-generation of diagnostic summaries
Automated clinical reminders
Medication and health-plan notifications
Remote monitoring and alert systems
Digital report formatting
Workflow optimization for hospital operations

SecondMedic incorporates automation across its telemedicine, diagnostics, monitoring, and preventive-care systems.

Automated Appointment Scheduling and Coordination

Appointment automation is one of the most practical innovations in India’s digital health landscape. Without automation, patients often encounter long queues, missed follow-ups, and scheduling conflicts.

Automated scheduling helps by:

Matching patients to the right doctor
Reducing wait times
Preventing double bookings
Prioritizing urgent cases
Coordinating virtual and in-person consults
Helping doctors manage daily workloads efficiently

SecondMedic’s automated scheduling engine analyzes doctor availability, user urgency, and specialty requirements to optimize appointment flow.

Automation in Diagnostics and Reporting

Medical diagnostics often involve multiple steps that traditionally require human intervention-uploading reports, comparing past results, formatting summaries, highlighting abnormalities, and generating clear interpretations.

Automation enhances diagnostic workflows by:

Auto-organizing digital medical reports
Highlighting abnormal ranges
Identifying missing test values
Summarizing patient history for doctors
Formatting structured reports instantly
Automating comparisons with past results

For AI-based imaging and lab analytics, automation helps radiologists and clinicians detect patterns faster and reduce minor reporting inconsistencies.

Remote Monitoring and Automated Alerts

Remote patient monitoring has grown rapidly in India, especially for chronic diseases. Wearable devices and home-health tools generate continuous data streams. Automation helps turn these raw inputs into actionable insights.

Monitoring automation includes:

Auto-detection of abnormal vitals
Alerts for risky trends
Medication reminders
Follow-up triggers
Predictive alerts using AI
Aggregated health reports for doctors

For chronic care, this ensures timely intervention and reduces emergency visits.

Enhancing Hospital and Clinic Workflows

Healthcare automation in clinical facilities improves operational efficiency and reduces administrative bottlenecks. Hospitals benefit significantly from automated workflows that ensure consistency and speed.

Applications include:

Patient flow management
Automated admission and discharge processes
Digital billing and inventory management
Lab and pharmacy integration
Nursing task automation
Centralized communication dashboards

These improvements reduce patient wait times and improve overall care delivery.

Improving Patient Engagement Through Automation

Automation supports patients by making healthcare more accessible and predictable. Many individuals struggle to remember follow-ups or understand complex medical guidance. Automated systems simplify this journey.

Key patient-facing automation benefits include:

Reminders for medications and appointments
Preventive health notifications
Personalized care tips
AI-driven chat support for common queries
Post-consultation guidance delivery
Automated sharing of doctor notes and reports

SecondMedic uses automation to ensure patients remain engaged throughout their health journey.

Automation and AI: A Powerful Combination

AI enhances healthcare automation by making it adaptive and context-aware. Instead of following fixed rules, AI learns from patterns, outcomes, and user behavior to optimize workflows.

AI strengthens automation through:

Predictive recommendations
Dynamic scheduling adjustments
Automated report summaries
Early detection of errors
Smart escalation of high-risk cases

This combination powers advanced clinical systems that support both providers and patients.

Challenges in Implementing Healthcare Automation in India

Automation requires planning, infrastructure, and careful integration. Key challenges include:

Fragmented patient data across facilities
Infrastructure limitations in rural areas
Varying digital readiness across hospitals
Need for staff training
Ensuring compliance with DPDP and ABDM standards

Despite these challenges, adoption is increasing as digital health becomes mainstream.

The Future of Digital Healthcare Automation in India

India is poised for significant automation growth, driven by advancements in AI, 5G connectivity, cloud platforms, and interoperable health records. Over the next decade, digital healthcare automation will include:

AI-powered hospital command centers
Fully automated radiology and pathology workflows
Robotic process automation (RPA) in administrative processes
Automated care coordination for chronic diseases
Voice-based digital assistants for patient queries
Smart triage algorithms integrated across telemedicine networks
Predictive automation for emergency care

SecondMedic is building a modern digital ecosystem that integrates AI, automation, and predictive healthcare tools, creating a seamless and intelligent healthcare experience for users.

Conclusion

Digital healthcare automation India is unlocking a new era of efficiency, precision, and patient-centered care. By automating clinical workflows, diagnostic tasks, and patient engagement processes, healthcare organizations can deliver faster, more reliable services. Automation supports doctors with real-time insights, reduces administrative burdens, and ensures that patients receive timely interventions.

SecondMedic continues to lead this transformation by integrating automation into virtual care, diagnostics, monitoring, and preventive health solutions, shaping the future of digital healthcare in India.

To access advanced automated digital healthcare tools, visit www.secondmedic.com

References

NITI Aayog – Digital Health India
ABDM – National Digital Health Mission
IMARC – Healthcare Automation Market India
WHO – Digital Health Workflow Automation
FICCI – Hospital Automation India

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