Viruses that mainly attack the liver and cause inflammation are called hepatitis viruses. The most common hepatitis types are A, B, C, D, and E, but what most people do not realize is that there are other types are well, like type G, acute fulminant hepatitis, and chronic viral hepatitis. In this article, we will discuss these lesser-known types of hepatitis. Even though they may be uncommon, they can be as serious as their more common counterparts.

1. What is hepatitis G?
Also termed as HGV, or GBV-C, this is a type of hepatitis caused by the hepatitis G virus. It has been recently discovered and resembles hepatitis C. Little is known about this type of hepatitis, except that it is a type of liver inflammation. The virus, as well as its effects, are currently being studied to understand the cause of the disease. There is only some evidence to prove that patients with hepatitis G may continue to carry the virus for several years and infect others. This virus can be passed on from the mother to an infant born through normal delivery. The risk reduces with a cesarean birth.

2. What is fulminant hepatitis?
In rare cases, people with acute infections of the hepatitis A or hepatitis B virus may start developing severe inflammation, due to which the liver may fail. This condition is called fulminant hepatitis. The symptoms of this hepatitis type are similar to those of acute hepatitis, along with issues like confusion, the risk of slipping into a coma, and bleeding or bruising due to insufficiency of clotting factors. As per statistics, this is a fatal condition that leads to the deaths of almost 80% of patients. This is a rare type affecting less than 0.5% of adults suffering from an acute HBV infection. This number is even lower when HCV is considered, but the chances of developing it are higher in the cases of coinfection of both HBV and HCV.

The treatment for this type should be undertaken at certified centers where liver transplantation can be performed. Due to the high mortality rate of this type, the chances of survival are low without an organ transplant.

3. What is chronic viral hepatitis?
People who have been infected with HCV and HBV may develop this type of hepatitis. Medical experts describe this type as a form of hepatitis that persists for longer than 6 months. In such cases, the viruses thrive and multiply in the liver for years or decades. For reasons that are not yet known, the patient’s immune system is not capable of eliminating them, which results in chronic inflammation of the liver. Over time, this can cause scarring of the liver, known as cirrhosis, liver cancer, and even liver failure. The most common reason for liver transplants in patients of the country is liver failure from chronic hepatitis C.

Patients of this type may transmit the infection to healthy individuals via bodily fluids or blood by shared syringes, sexual contact, and even organ donation. It may also be genetically passed on from mother to newborn.