Misunderstood illness leads to dark urine as doctor shares red flags
Hepatitis continues to be a widespread illness globally, yet it's often surrounded by myths and misunderstandings. Countless people mistakenly believe that it transmits through everyday social interactions such as sharing utensils, hugging, or kissing – or that it's an inherited condition passed through generations.
Ahead of World Hepatitis Day (July 28), we chatted with Dr Yiannis Kallis, consultant hepatologist and gastroenterologist at Nuffield Health St Bartholomew's Hospital, to bust these myths and shed light on the various types of hepatitis.
What is hepatitis?
"Viral hepatitis is an infection of the liver with a virus," Dr Kallis said. "There are five different types of viral hepatitis: hepatitis A through to E. Some cause an acute but transient infection; others may cause a chronic, persistent infection over many years and may lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer."
What causes hepatitis?
Dr Kallis went on: "Hepatitis A and hepatitis E are spread via the oral route. This means that they can be caught by drinking contaminated water or by eating infected food, much like a type of food poisoning or gastroenteritis.
"These viruses are more prevalent in the developing world, but they can also, rarely, be acquired in the UK." Nevertheless, hepatitis B, C and D (called 'delta') are acquired through contact with contaminated blood.
"For example, through blood transfusion, sharing needles, the use of poorly sterilised medical/dental equipment, or at childbirth," Dr Kallis went on. "These are termed the blood-borne viruses. Hepatitis B and delta may also be spread through sexual contact."
What are some symptoms of hepatitis?
Dr Kallis said: "Most people who catch a chronic viral hepatitis have no symptoms when they first acquire the virus and are unaware that they have it. This is especially the case if it is transmitted at childbirth or in childhood, which is the commonest time to catch chronic hepatitis B or C."
He also noted that certain types of viral hepatitis, when contracted in adulthood, can result in jaundice and other general symptoms of feeling unwell.
"Jaundice is a yellow discolouration of the eyes and skin and is usually accompanied by very dark-coloured urine," he continued. "If anyone becomes jaundiced, they should seek medical attention."
Another sign of chronic viral hepatitis ( B or C) may be persistent abnormalities in liver blood tests. Dr Kallis added: "This is sometimes found by chance or during a general health check-up. If someone has persistently abnormal liver blood tests, they should see their GP or a liver specialist to ensure that this is properly investigated."
What are some of the biggest misconceptions about hepatitis?
"The blood-borne viruses (hepatitis B, C and delta) are very unlikely to be caught by holding hands, kissing, sharing cutlery etc," Dr Kallis said. "This is a misconception. It is also uncommon for hepatitis C to be caught through sex."
Can hepatitis lead to serious complications?
"Hepatitis A and hepatitis E generally only cause a transient illness from which the liver function fully recovers, and the virus is cleared," Dr Kallis said, but noted a few rare exceptions to this.
"Chronic hepatitis B, C or delta can lead to the development of cirrhosis, liver cancer or liver failure over many years," he added. "Hepatitis delta can only occur in people who also have hepatitis B infection. Chronic viral hepatitis is a leading cause of death due to liver disease globally and in some countries is a leading cause of cancer."
Can hepatitis be prevented?
"Careful food hygiene and only drinking clean water are ways to reduce the risk of hepatitis A or E infection, particularly whilst travelling within the developing world," Dr Kallis said. There are also vaccines available for certain types of hepatitis.
He continued: "There are effective vaccines against hepatitis A and B infection, but there is no specific vaccines for hepatitis C, D or E. But the transmission of blood-borne viruses can be prevented by not sharing needles among people who inject recreational drugs and sexual transmission risk can be minimised by the use of barrier methods such as condoms."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Misunderstood illness leads to dark urine as doctor shares red flags
A doctor has revealed some of the biggest myths about the condition Hepatitis continues to be a widespread illness globally, yet it's often surrounded by myths and misunderstandings. Countless people mistakenly believe that it transmits through everyday social interactions such as sharing utensils, hugging, or kissing – or that it's an inherited condition passed through generations. Ahead of World Hepatitis Day (July 28), we chatted with Dr Yiannis Kallis, consultant hepatologist and gastroenterologist at Nuffield Health St Bartholomew's Hospital, to bust these myths and shed light on the various types of hepatitis. What is hepatitis? "Viral hepatitis is an infection of the liver with a virus," Dr Kallis said. "There are five different types of viral hepatitis: hepatitis A through to E. Some cause an acute but transient infection; others may cause a chronic, persistent infection over many years and may lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer." What causes hepatitis? Dr Kallis went on: "Hepatitis A and hepatitis E are spread via the oral route. This means that they can be caught by drinking contaminated water or by eating infected food, much like a type of food poisoning or gastroenteritis. "These viruses are more prevalent in the developing world, but they can also, rarely, be acquired in the UK." Nevertheless, hepatitis B, C and D (called 'delta') are acquired through contact with contaminated blood. "For example, through blood transfusion, sharing needles, the use of poorly sterilised medical/dental equipment, or at childbirth," Dr Kallis went on. "These are termed the blood-borne viruses. Hepatitis B and delta may also be spread through sexual contact." What are some symptoms of hepatitis? Dr Kallis said: "Most people who catch a chronic viral hepatitis have no symptoms when they first acquire the virus and are unaware that they have it. This is especially the case if it is transmitted at childbirth or in childhood, which is the commonest time to catch chronic hepatitis B or C." He also noted that certain types of viral hepatitis, when contracted in adulthood, can result in jaundice and other general symptoms of feeling unwell. "Jaundice is a yellow discolouration of the eyes and skin and is usually accompanied by very dark-coloured urine," he continued. "If anyone becomes jaundiced, they should seek medical attention." Another sign of chronic viral hepatitis ( B or C) may be persistent abnormalities in liver blood tests. Dr Kallis added: "This is sometimes found by chance or during a general health check-up. If someone has persistently abnormal liver blood tests, they should see their GP or a liver specialist to ensure that this is properly investigated." What are some of the biggest misconceptions about hepatitis? "The blood-borne viruses (hepatitis B, C and delta) are very unlikely to be caught by holding hands, kissing, sharing cutlery etc," Dr Kallis said. "This is a misconception. It is also uncommon for hepatitis C to be caught through sex." Can hepatitis lead to serious complications? "Hepatitis A and hepatitis E generally only cause a transient illness from which the liver function fully recovers, and the virus is cleared," Dr Kallis said, but noted a few rare exceptions to this. "Chronic hepatitis B, C or delta can lead to the development of cirrhosis, liver cancer or liver failure over many years," he added. "Hepatitis delta can only occur in people who also have hepatitis B infection. Chronic viral hepatitis is a leading cause of death due to liver disease globally and in some countries is a leading cause of cancer." Can hepatitis be prevented? "Careful food hygiene and only drinking clean water are ways to reduce the risk of hepatitis A or E infection, particularly whilst travelling within the developing world," Dr Kallis said. There are also vaccines available for certain types of hepatitis. He continued: "There are effective vaccines against hepatitis A and B infection, but there is no specific vaccines for hepatitis C, D or E. But the transmission of blood-borne viruses can be prevented by not sharing needles among people who inject recreational drugs and sexual transmission risk can be minimised by the use of barrier methods such as condoms."
BBC News
10-07-2025
- BBC News
Surgeon dropped from private practice works at NHS hospital
A surgeon banned from working for a private healthcare company, following an investigation into patient safety, continues to work in the NHS, the BBC Health has stopped Marc Lamah from working in their hospitals, but he is still operating on patients for the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation NHS patient left with a twisted bowel following an operation he carried out said he should never work Lamah did not respond to the BBC's request for comment sent via his employer. In January the BBC revealed concerns had been raised about Mr Lamah's complication rate and that he was no longer practising at Nuffield Health's hospital in Brighton pending an investigation. A former employee at the hospital told the BBC that internal data showed one third of Mr Lamah's patients had experienced a "moderate harm event", where, for instance, a patient had to be transferred to another hospital or re-admitted, over a 12-month period. The figure should be 5%, the BBC was told. In a statement to the BBC, Nuffield Health said following an independent investigation, "we can confirm Mr Lamah's practicing privileges with Nuffield Health have been withdrawn."His conduct did not meet the standards of medical practice and governance we expect. Patient safety is our top priority, and we hold all consultants to the highest standards." Mr Lamah continues to operate as a colorectal surgeon at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton. The University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, told the BBC it had audited Mr Lamah's NHS data, which showed his outcomes were within the expected national range. The trust added that Nuffield's investigation had found "no concerns with regard to technical abilities, surgical practice or patient safety".The trust is at the centre of a large police investigation, Operation Bramber, looking into at least 200 cases of alleged medical Police is examining concerns about avoidable harm and cover-ups in the trust's neurosurgery and general surgery departments between 2015 and 2021. The trust runs seven hospitals across East and West Sussex and is one of the largest organisations within the NHS, providing care to a population of almost two million people. Sheryl Hunter says she has suffered "five years of hell" after an NHS operation carried out by Mr Lamah. She has to manually excavate her bowels and has needed several emergency suffering from endometriosis for a number of years, in 2019 doctors decided that Ms Hunter, a mother of one, needed an operation to ease her Lamah decided the best approach was to remove a part of her large intestine, the colon, and connect it to her small intestine.A few days after she was discharged, said Ms Hunter, "I felt something pop, and this very awful fluid was coming out of me".She was rushed back to the Royal Sussex where they discovered the joint between the two intestines had torn, and "for 10 days it had been filling up my abdomen with bowel matter." This is a known complication of this type of surgery, the BBC understands. Cases double in NHS trust death and injury investigationFamilies back hospital trust manslaughter probe Despite that problem being resolved, Ms Hunter continued to suffer extreme pain for several years, necessitating repeated visits to both her GP and the Royal Sussex said: "I have very little good days. By that, I mean I am curled up in a ball crying. "When I try to go to the toilet, I scream on the toilet in tears because it is so painful to go, to open up my bowels. I have to manually do that, which means I have to wear gloves."The pain is very severe – it's in my stomach, it gets into my spine, down my legs, my arms."Letters shared with the BBC by Ms Hunter show her GP wrote to Mr Lamah repeatedly requesting he see her January, 2023 the GP wrote that "we have written to you on multiple occasions to review her and discuss her options".A few days later Mr Lamah replied to say he had not received any previous letters. But almost 12 months later, in December 2023, the GP wrote another letter urging Mr Lamah to see Hunter told the BBC he was "begged" by colleagues to see her but "he refused". Finally, in April 2024, she was seen by another consultant at a different hospital run by the same trust - the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath - when she found out what was causing her pain."The main problem is a 180 degree twist on the small bowel causing an internal hernia and twisting the anastomosis [the surgical joint]," said the discharge sheet given to Ms Hunter by the hospital after the procedure."When they did the reconnection [of the intestines], they put it on backwards," Sheryl said she was told. "That [creates] a risk of rupture. If you rupture, it's a two-hour window before death."Had I not been manually opening my bowels for five years, they said that would have happened."The trust said surgical error was only presented as one of a range of possibilities. The BBC passed the details to an independent medical expert who said the twist "certainly is a consequence of the 2019 operation". The trust said only a further operation would confirm if Mr Lamah had made an error or whether the twist had occurred the damage is now more extensive than it would have been had Ms Hunter been treated has been told she will need pelvic reconstruction surgery before she can have another operation to try to fix her intestines. She is on a waiting list for the first procedure and has spoken to Sussex Police about her NHS colleagues have also raised concerns to the BBC about Mr Lamah, but he continues to practise at the Royal Sussex County Hospital."I think it's disgusting. That man shouldn't be allowed to touch any other patients," said Ms Hunter."I was told Marc Lamah has a terrible bedside manner, but he's a fantastic surgeon. "Marc Lamar has a terrible bedside manner, and he's a terrible surgeon. He shouldn't be allowed to operate, as far as I'm concerned." 'Robust systems' In a statement, Prof Katie Urch, chief medical officer for the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, told the BBC: "We can't publicly discuss an individual's care, but we absolutely understand the distress and difficulty anyone living with ongoing complex health issues can face."Our clinical teams are dedicated to understanding their patients' needs and providing the highest standard of care."Whilst no medical procedure can guarantee a successful outcome, our teams strive for the best possible results every day – and if we ever have cause to think we could have done more for a patient we have robust systems, including the routine use of independent experts, to help us learn and improve."
Business News Wales
02-05-2025
- Business News Wales
Applications Open for Arwain DGC Sponsored Nuffield Farming Scholarship
Arwain DGC has announced the sponsorship of a Nuffield Farming Scholarship, offering an opportunity to undertake international research into antimicrobial stewardship. Applications are open for the '2026 Nuffield Farming Arwain DGC Scholarship', which is worth more than £15,000. The deadline for applications is July 31st, 2025, at noon. Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust is a registered charity that aims to 'inspire passion in people and develop their potential to lead positive change in farming and food.' The scholarships were first awarded in 1947, and since then, more than 1,000 scholars from the UK have undertaken travel and studies to advance agriculture. To further their knowledge and understanding of their chosen study, scholars can travel anywhere in the world for a period of no less than eight weeks. On their return, they will compile a written report along with a five-minute video and present their findings at the Annual Nuffield Farming Conference. Arwain DGC is a Welsh Government-funded programme dedicated to preventing antibiotic resistance in animals and the environment by supporting farmers and vets through data-driven decisions, innovative technologies, and best practices. Its goal is to continue to position Wales as a global leader in the fight against AMR, by nurturing collaboration, promoting innovation, and sharing knowledge, to ensure that antibiotics remain effective for animal and human health for future generations. Dewi Hughes, Arwain DGC Programme Manager, said: 'We're delighted to partner with Nuffield and offer this scholarship opportunity. I encourage anyone with an interest in antimicrobial stewardship and who wants to make a difference to animal and human health to apply for this fantastic opportunity.' 'The successful scholar will have the opportunity to travel the world and see first-hand the different approaches taken in different countries to address antimicrobial resistance. 'We hope that these invaluable insights could further help Welsh farmers and vets to reduce the need to use antibiotics, and ensure antibiotics keep working for future generations. 'We encourage anyone who is interested to contact us or contact Nuffield Farming directly to make an application. Good luck!' Applicants for the '2026 Nuffield Farming Arwain DGC Scholarship' need to study topics related to Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS). Topics could include antibiotic resistance and ways of reducing the risk, strategies that other countries are using or developing to use antibiotics responsibly, or innovation/innovation that avoids the need to use antibiotics in livestock production. Also, the scholar must live and work in Wales to be eligible for funding. For more information about the '2026 Nuffield Farming Arwain DGC Scholarship', potential applicants can contact Arwain DGC at arwaindgc@ or visit here . They can also chat with members of the Arwain DGC team who will be present at the forthcoming Royal Welsh Agriculture Society's Spring Festival (Llanelwedd May 17th & 18th) and the NSA Welsh Sheep event in Brecon on May 21st. Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust also holds regular Zoom drop-in information and Q&A sessions.
