Hepatitis Treatment in Bathinda — Dr. Raman Garg, Expert Hepatologist

Hepatitis — inflammation of the liver — is one of the most serious public health challenges in India. Millions of people in Punjab, Haryana, and across India are living with chronic hepatitis B or C, many without knowing it. Dr. Raman Garg at Bombay Gastro & Cancer Institute, Bathinda provides the most advanced hepatitis diagnosis and treatment available in South Punjab, including antiviral therapy, fibroscan-based staging, and long-term liver health monitoring.

Types of Hepatitis

Hepatitis A (HAV)

Spread through contaminated food and water. Causes acute hepatitis — jaundice, fever, fatigue, loss of appetite. Usually self-limiting — recovers completely in 4–8 weeks with supportive care. Vaccine available (recommended before travel to endemic areas).

Hepatitis B (HBV)

Spread through blood, sexual contact, mother-to-child at birth. Can become chronic (persists more than 6 months) — leading to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer if untreated. India has one of the highest burdens of Hepatitis B — over 40 million chronic carriers.

• Acute Hepatitis B: Most adults clear the infection spontaneously — supportive treatment
• Chronic Hepatitis B: Requires antiviral therapy — tenofovir or entecavir — taken long-term to suppress the virus

Hepatitis B vaccine is safe, effective, and recommended for all unvaccinated individuals.

Hepatitis C (HCV)

Spread mainly through blood — shared needles, unsafe medical procedures, unscreened blood transfusions. Sexual transmission is possible but less common. Hepatitis C is now curable with modern direct-acting antiviral (DAA) medications.

• 8–12 week oral treatment
• Cure rate exceeds 95%
• Minimal side effects compared to old interferon-based therapy
• Drugs: sofosbuvir + daclatasvir, sofosbuvir + velpatasvir

Hepatitis D (HDV)

Only occurs in patients with Hepatitis B (co-infection or super-infection). Worsens liver disease. Prevention by Hepatitis B vaccination.

Hepatitis E (HEV)

Spread through contaminated water. Common during monsoon season. Usually self-limiting but can be severe in pregnant women — risk of acute liver failure. Supportive treatment; vaccine available in some countries.

Symptoms of Hepatitis

Many people with chronic hepatitis B or C have no symptoms for years — the virus silently damages the liver. When symptoms do appear:

• Fatigue and weakness (most common)
• Jaundice (yellow eyes and skin)
• Dark urine and pale stools
• Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting
• Abdominal pain (right upper quadrant)
• Joint pain and muscle aches
• Low-grade fever
• Itching (in cholestatic hepatitis)

Late-stage hepatitis (cirrhosis): Swollen abdomen (ascites), swollen legs (oedema), confusion (hepatic encephalopathy), bleeding from varices. Read about liver cirrhosis →

Diagnosis of Hepatitis at Bombay Gastro & Cancer Institute, Bathinda

• Liver Function Tests (LFT): Elevated bilirubin, SGOT, SGPT, ALP — indicates active liver inflammation
• Viral Hepatitis Markers: HBsAg, anti-HBc, HBeAg, HBV DNA (viral load), anti-HCV, HCV RNA (genotype)
• Abdominal Ultrasound: Liver size, echogenicity, spleen size, portal hypertension signs
• Fibroscan: Non-invasive measurement of liver stiffness — grades fibrosis (F0–F4) without biopsy
• Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP): Cancer marker — used for hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance in Hepatitis B/C patients
• Liver Biopsy: If non-invasive tests are inconclusive — grades inflammation (grade) and fibrosis (stage)

Hepatitis Treatment at Bombay Gastro & Cancer Institute, Bathinda

Hepatitis B Treatment

• Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF) or Tenofovir Alafenamide (TAF): First-line antiviral — once-daily tablet, highly effective, excellent safety profile
• Entecavir: Alternative first-line antiviral — equally effective, preferred in patients with kidney disease
• Treatment duration: Mostly indefinite for chronic HBV. Some achieve HBsAg loss (functional cure) — can stop treatment.
• Regular monitoring: LFT, HBV DNA, AFP every 3–6 months
• Prevention of cirrhosis and liver cancer: Antiviral therapy dramatically reduces these risks

Hepatitis C Treatment (Cure Available)

• Sofosbuvir + Daclatasvir: Pan-genotypic combination — 12 weeks, affordable, highly effective (>95% SVR)
• Sofosbuvir + Velpatasvir: Fixed-dose combination — 12 weeks
• Sofosbuvir + Ledipasvir: For genotype 1 — 8–12 weeks
• After completing treatment, HCV RNA is tested 12 weeks later — if undetectable, patient is cured

Hepatitis A & E Treatment (Supportive)

• Rest and adequate hydration (oral or IV fluids)
• High-carbohydrate, low-fat, low-protein diet (with adequate calories)
• Avoid alcohol, hepatotoxic drugs
• Hospitalisation if severe jaundice, dehydration, or signs of acute liver failure

Frequently Asked Questions — Hepatitis Treatment Bathinda