Viral Hepetitis Care

A Personalized Approach to Better Liver Health

Viral hepatitis is not one disease it is five distinct viral infections, each with its own behaviour, its own risks, and its own treatment path. Hepatitis A and E are usually short-term illnesses that resolve on their own. Hepatitis B, C and D can become chronic, working quietly on the liver for years before symptoms appear, and can progress to fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer if left unaddressed.

The World Health Organization has set a global goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030 a target that is realistic largely because of how far diagnosis and treatment have advanced. Hepatitis B has a highly effective vaccine. Hepatitis C is now curable in the vast majority of patients. Hepatitis D has a newly approved targeted treatment. The tools available today are genuinely different from what existed even a decade ago.

At the practice of Dr. Ashok Choudhury, viral hepatitis care focuses on identifying the specific virus involved, accurately staging how the liver is affected, and building a tailored treatment and monitoring plan around each patient’s individual situation.

Viral Hepatitis Is Manageable

The right approach depends on knowing exactly what you’re dealing with

A hepatitis diagnosis can mean very different things depending on which virus is involved, whether the infection is acute or chronic, and how the liver has responded so far.

The next step is to understand:

• Which specific hepatitis virus is present
• Whether the infection is acute or chronic
• How much liver inflammation or fibrosis has occurred
• Whether curative treatment is available for this specific virus
• Whether family members or close contacts need testing or vaccination
• Whether monitoring, active treatment, or both are appropriate right now

The goal is not simply to “detect a virus”. It is to understand exactly which virus, in what state, and to act accordingly.

Our Approach to Viral Hepatitis Care

1. Identify the Specific Virus Involved

Because the five types of viral hepatitis behave so differently, accurate identification is the foundation of the entire management plan.

Assessment may include looking at:

Comprehensive viral panel testing Blood tests specific to each hepatitis virus confirm which infection is present and whether it is active.

Acute versus chronic classification Determining how long an infection has likely been present shapes both urgency and treatment approach.

Exposure and risk history Travel, transfusion history, injection drug use, birth history and close contacts all help clarify how and when infection may have occurred.

Coinfection screening Patients with Hepatitis B are assessed for possible Hepatitis D, and those with any hepatitis virus are considered for HIV testing where relevant.

2. Assess the Liver Properly

The virus is only part of the picture. Understanding the actual condition of the liver determines how urgently, and how aggressively, treatment is needed.

Depending on the individual patient, assessment may include:

Liver Blood Tests To evaluate liver enzymes and overall liver function at diagnosis and throughout treatment.

FibroScan A non-invasive test used to assess liver stiffness and estimate the degree of fibrosis without a biopsy.

Ultrasound and Further Imaging Used to assess liver structure and screen for complications in patients with more advanced disease.

Fibrosis and Cirrhosis Staging Non-invasive scoring, in line with AASLD and WHO guidance, helps identify patients who need closer monitoring or urgent treatment.

Liver Cancer Screening Regular surveillance for patients with chronic viral hepatitis and existing cirrhosis, given the increased long-term risk.

3. Deliver Virus-Specific Treatment

Treatment differs substantially depending on which hepatitis virus is involved — there is no single protocol that fits all five.

Hepatitis A and E Generally managed with supportive care while the infection resolves on its own, with closer monitoring for higher-risk patients.

Hepatitis B Managed with structured monitoring, and antiviral therapy such as tenofovir or entecavir when indicated, to suppress the virus and protect the liver long-term.

Hepatitis C Treated with direct-acting antiviral therapy, typically over 8 to 12 weeks, curing more than 95% of patients who complete treatment.

Hepatitis D Managed alongside underlying Hepatitis B, with access to bulevirtide, the first targeted treatment developed specifically for this virus.

4. Prevent Transmission and Protect Family Members

Viral hepatitis care extends beyond the individual patient to the people around them.

Vaccination Hepatitis A and B vaccines are highly effective and recommended for unvaccinated patients, household contacts and travellers.

Newborn and pregnancy protection Testing and preventive measures during pregnancy significantly reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission of Hepatitis B.

Contact testing Household members, partners and close contacts are offered appropriate testing based on the specific virus involved.

Harm reduction support For patients with ongoing exposure risk, practical guidance helps prevent both initial infection and reinfection after successful treatment.

Why Getting Tested Matters

Chronic viral hepatitis, particularly Hepatitis B and C, is often described as a silent disease — many patients feel entirely well for years while the liver is quietly affected. A one-time screening test can resolve the question either way, and for the viruses that can now be cured or well-controlled, early diagnosis is what makes that outcome possible.

A Personalized Plan, Not a One-Size-Fits-All Answer

Every hepatitis patient’s situation is shaped by which virus is involved, how long it has been present, and how the liver has responded so far. At the practice of Dr. Ashok Choudhury, care begins with pinpointing exactly what is happening, followed by a treatment and monitoring plan built specifically around that picture.

If you have been diagnosed with, or are concerned about, any form of viral hepatitis, a consultation is the right place to get clarity and a clear plan forward.