Hepatitis may be the Greek term for liver inflammation. It is characterised by the damage of a number of liver cells and also the presence of inflammatory cells in the liver tissue.

Hepatitis can be caused by viruses that mainly attack the liver cells, for example hepatitis A and B. Patients with glandular fever, brought on by the Epstein-Barr virus, may also suffer from a panic attack of hepatitis.

Hepatitis can be divided into 2 subgroups according to its duration:

• acute hepatitis – lasting under 6 months
• chronic hepatitis – staying longer than 6 months.

What can cause acute hepatitis?

Acute hepatitis has a number of possible causes.

• Infectious viral hepatitis, for example hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D and hepatitis E.
• Other viral diseases, for example glandular fever and cytomegalovirus.
• Severe bacterial infections.
• Amoebic infections.
• Medicines, eg paracetamol poisoning and halothane (an anaesthetic).
• Harmful toxins: alcohol and fungal toxins, eg toadstool poisoning.

What can cause chronic hepatitis?

Persistent hepatitis also offers a number of different causes.

• Infectious hepatitis, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and hepatitis D.
• Drug reactions.
• Toxins, for example alcohol.
• Autoimmune hepatitis. This is a disease in which a number of liver cells are destroyed through the patient’s own defense mechanisms. Autoimmune hepatitis can also sometimes occur as acute hepatitis. The reason is unknown.
• Inborn metabolic disorders, such as Wilson’s disease (disorder of the body’s copper metabolism) and haemochromatosis (disorder from the body’s iron metabolism).

How can you get hepatitis ?

A person can develop hepatitis if they contract among the viruses that can cause liver inflammation, or as a result of exposure to substances that induce hepatitis – alcohol, fungal toxins and certain medicines.

There are two ways medicines can cause hepatitis: it can either occur as a result of medicine poisoning through overdoses of a medicine (eg paracetamol), or it can occur as a result of an abnormal reaction of the liver to a normal dose (eg halothane, the anaesthetic). Fortunately, the latter type of hepatitis is rare.

Do you know the the signs of hepatitis?

Acute hepatitis

The symptoms of acute hepatitis vary considerably for every person. Some patients have no symptoms at all, and in most cases, children only show mild symptoms.
In the first stages:

• tiredness, general malaise, slight fever
• nausea, poor appetite, changes in taste perception
• pressure or pain below the best ribs caused by an enlarged liver
• aching muscles and joints, headache, skin rash.

The jaundiced phase:

• yellowing of sclerae (the whites from the eyes), pores and skin and mucous membranes
• dark urine
• light-coloured stools
• around this time, the other signs and symptoms subside.

The recovery phase:

• tiredness that may are weeks.

Persistent hepatitis

• Many patients have no symptoms.
• Tiredness, a heightened need for sleep, aching muscles and joints.
• Periodic light pressure or pain below the right ribs – enlarged liver.
• Jaundice is a very late characteristic of chronic hepatitis. It is a sign that the disease has become serious.

Who’s vulnerable to hepatitis ?

• Patients with jaundice or other symptoms of hepatitis.
• People in high risk groups.
• People who are at increased risk as a result of hereditary kind of hepatitis within their families.

How can hepatitis be avoided ?

• By avoiding contact with the infectious hepatitis viruses.
• By being vaccinated against hepatitis A and hepatitis B, for those who have a bad risk of being infected.
• By refraining from drinking large amounts of alcohol.

What you can do in your own home ?

• Avoid alcohol consumption if you’ve the signs of hepatitis or if a blood sample has shown that the disease is active.
• If alcoholism is the cause, you have to stop drinking completely and see your doctor. Eat a well-balanced diet.
• If you have symptoms of acute hepatitis, you may need to decelerate. However, if you feel fine, there is no reason why you should not start working and keep up your alternative activities.
• If you have hepatitis A and your job involves food handling, your doctor will advise you on when it’s safe to return to work
• If you have chronic hepatitis, try to lead an ordinary life as far as possible.
• People who have hepatitis B must inform their family and their sexual partners about it. Sexual along with other close contacts will have to protect themselves by being vaccinated. Condoms should be used until the vaccine has begun to work.
• If you have hepatitis A, you must inform your family, to enable them to protect themselves against it by practising good hygiene and seek advice on vaccination and other preventive measures.
• If you’ve chronic hepatitis, you ought to have regular clinic review because of your specialist.

How is hepatitis identified ?

Blood tests will help determine the cause and harshness of the hepatitis.

Further information may be from ultrasound along with other kinds of liver scans.

In certain situations a liver biopsy may be recommended. This involves taking a tiny bit of the liver to check out underneath the microscope. The procedure is generally done under local anaesthetic as a day case in a specialist unit.

Potential customers

Acute infectious viral hepatitis usually improves with no specific treatment.

Acute infection isn’t life-threatening.

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C may become chronic. Hepatitis A never does.

Acute hepatitis brought on by medicines or alcohol usually improves once the liver is no longer exposed to these substances.

About one fifth of the patients with chronic hepatitis B and C are at chance of developing cirrhosis or cancer of the liver can.

Cirrhosis may also be caused by other kinds of chronic hepatitis.

How is hepatitis treated ?

• No medical treatment method is usually necessary for acute viral hepatitis.
• Chronic hepatitis B can be treated with interferon alfa or other antiviral agents.
• Chronic hepatitis C may be treatable with interferon alfa and ribavirin (tribavirin).
• Autoimmune hepatitis can by treated with corticosteroids.

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Word Hepatitis simply means inflammation of the liver without locating a specific cause. Someone with hepatitis may:

• Is one of several disorders, including viral or bacterial infection of the liver
• He has liver damage caused by a toxin (poison)
• Having liver damage caused by the interruption of normal blood supply of organs
• They occur during the attack on his immune system through an autoimmune disease

Hepatitis is most commonly caused by one of three viruses:

1. Hepatitis A
2. Hepatitis B
3. Hepatitis C

In rare cases, the Epstein Barr virus (which causes mononucleosis) can also cause hepatitis, which can cause liver inflammation. Other viruses and bacteria that can cause hepatitis include hepatitis D and E, varicella, and cytomegalovirus (CMV).

Hepatitis

In children, the most common form of hepatitis is hepatitis A (also known as infectious hepatitis). This form is caused by hepatitis A (HAV), who lives in the feces (stool or feces) of infected people. Infected feces may be present in small amounts in food and on objects (door handles of diapers).

HAV is spread:

• When someone eats something contaminated with infected feces-HAV (which makes it easier for the virus to spread in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions)
• Water, milk and food, especially seafood

Because hepatitis can be mild inflammation, especially in children, it is possible, some people know that they were sick. In fact, although medical studies show that about 40% of urban Americans have had hepatitis, only about 5% recall being sick. Although the hepatitis A virus can cause prolonged illness up to 6 months, usually causes only short-term illnesses, and does not cause chronic liver disease.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B (also known as serum hepatitis) is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). HBV can cause a variety of symptoms ranging from malaise is a chronic disease of the liver, which can lead to liver cancer.

HBV is transmitted through:

• The infected body fluids such as blood, saliva, semen, vaginal secretions, tears and urine
• A contaminated blood transfusion (uncommon in the United States)
• Sharing of contaminated needles or syringes for injecting drugs
• Sexual activity with a person infected with HBV
• Transmission of HBV infected mothers to their newborn babies

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread in direct contact with the blood of an infected person. The symptoms of hepatitis C virus can be very similar to hepatitis A and B. However, HCV infection can lead to chronic liver disease and is the leading cause of liver transplantation in the United States.

Hepatitis C can be transmitted through:

• Sharing needles to inject drugs
• Getting a piercing or tattoo body with unsterilized equipment
• Blood transfusions (especially those that occurred before 1992, because the blood supply of the United States has been systematically examined for the disease)
• Transmission from mother to newborn
• Sexual contact (although this is less common)

Hepatitis C is also a common threat in kidney dialysis centers. Rarely, people living with an infected person can contract the disease by sharing items that may contain the blood of that person, such as razors or toothbrushes.

Diagnosis

All of these viral hepatitis conditions can be diagnosed and controlled by the use of blood tests available.

Signs and symptoms

Hepatitis in its infancy, it can cause flu-like symptoms, including:

• A malaise (a general ill feeling)
• Fever
• Muscle aches
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of eyes)

However, some people with hepatitis have no symptoms at all and not even know they are infected. Children with hepatitis A, for example, usually have mild symptoms or no symptoms.

If hepatitis progresses, symptoms start to see the source of liver disease. The chemicals normally excreted by the liver begin to accumulate in the blood, which causes:

• Jaundice
• Foul Breath
• A bitter taste in the mouth
• A dark or “tea-colored” urine
• White, light, or “clay-colored” stools

There may also be abdominal pain, which may be centered below the right ribs (over a tender, swollen liver) or below the ribs on the left (over the spleen race).

Contagiousness

Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C are all contagious.

Hepatitis A can spread from contaminated food or water and unsanitary conditions in kindergartens or schools. Toilets and sinks used by an infected person should be cleaned with an antiseptic. People who live with or care for someone with hepatitis should wash their hands after contact with an infected person. Also, when traveling to countries where hepatitis A is prevalent, your child must be vaccinated at least two doses of the vaccine against hepatitis A.

Hepatitis B virus is found in almost all body fluids, though its main routes of infection through sexual contact, blood transfusions and contaminated needles for injecting drugs shared. Family contacts of adults with hepatitis B can put people at risk of hepatitis. But often the hand-washing and good hygiene practices can reduce this risk.

All children in the United States receive hepatitis B vaccine at birth and the use of hepatitis B vaccine can significantly reduce the incidence of this infection. Ask your doctor about this vaccine. Even adults can be vaccinated if they believe they are at risk.

Hepatitis C virus can spread by sharing drug needles, contaminated blood products, and more rarely through sexual intercourse. Although hepatitis C can be spread from mother to fetus during pregnancy, the risk of transmitting hepatitis C to the fetus is not very high (about 5%). If you are pregnant, consult your doctor if you suspect may be exposed to hepatitis C.

In recent years, improved medical technology has virtually eliminated the risk of hepatitis from contaminated blood products and blood transfusions. However, as tattoos and acupuncture have become more popular, the risk of developing hepatitis from improperly sterilized equipment used in these procedures has increased. Shared needles in drug use and shared straws in cocaine use are two very common forms of hepatitis C to spread.

Prevention

In general, to prevent viral hepatitis you should:

• Follow good hygiene and avoid crowded, unhealthy living conditions.
• Take extra precautions, especially when drinking or swimming, if you travel in the world where sanitation is poor and water quality is uncertain.
• Never eat shellfish from waters contaminated by sewage.
• Be sure everyone in your family to wash their hands after visiting toilet and before eating.
• Use antiseptic cleansers to clean the toilet, sink, potty, or a basin used by a person in the family who develops hepatitis.

Because contaminated needles and syringes are a major source of infection with hepatitis, is a good idea to promote drug prevention programs in their communities and schools. At home with your child to talk openly and often about the dangers of drug use. It ‘also important to encourage abstinence and safe sex for teenagers, in order to eliminate the risk of hepatitis infection through sexual contact.

Hepatitis vaccine is available to children 12 months and older. Previously, the vaccine is only recommended for those at high risk for the disease (such as those who have lived or traveled in places where high-HAV), but now the vaccine is available to anyone who wants immunity to hepatitis A .

If you plan to travel abroad, contact your doctor in advance so you and your family have enough time to make the necessary vaccinations. The vaccine is particularly useful for staff in child care or school, where they may be at risk of exposure.

There is also a vaccine against hepatitis B to be given to children and adults as part of routine immunization.

Unfortunately, there is no vaccine against hepatitis C – Animal studies have shown that it may be possible, because the virus does not cause any response, the need for a vaccine has been successful.

Duration

In viral hepatitis, the incubation period (the time it takes for a person to become infected after being exposed), as the hepatitis virus causes the disease:

• For hepatitis A, the incubation period is 2 to 6 weeks.
• For hepatitis B, the incubation period is between 4 and 20 weeks.
• For hepatitis C, it is estimated that the incubation period is 2 to 26 weeks.

Hepatitis A is usually active for a short period and when a person recovers, he or she is no longer transmit the virus to others. It is almost unimaginable for people to become chronic carriers of hepatitis A. Almost all previously healthy people who get hepatitis A recover completely from their disease within weeks or months without long-term complications.

With hepatitis B, 85% to 90% of patients recover from their illness completely within 6 months, without long-term complications.

But 75% to 85% of those infected with hepatitis C who have not fully recovered and are more likely to continue to have a long-term infection. People with hepatitis B (the percentage of those who do not recover completely) or hepatitis C, which continues to be infected can continue to develop chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis (chronic degeneration and disruption of the structure of the liver). Some people with hepatitis B or C may also become lifelong carriers of the virus and can transmit it to others.

Treatment

When symptoms are severe or laboratory tests show liver damage, it is sometimes necessary for hepatitis to be treated in the hospital. Here’s a quick look at the treatments available for different hepatitis

• There are no drugs to treat hepatitis A because it is a short-term infection goes away by itself.
• Hepatitis B can sometimes be treated with medication. Four drugs are approved for use in adults with hepatitis B, but there has not been enough research yet on their use in children. But you can talk to your child’s doctor about a drug that may be available in some centers on a search for the children.

• Treatment of hepatitis C has improved dramatically with the use of two drugs, only one is approved for use in children. Another more effective drug is not approved for children, but are available for children in some centers, a research base. In adults who have just been infected with hepatitis C (by accidental needle injury, for example), the association with two drugs is the treatment of choice and can eliminate the virus in about 50% of those infected .

Children with mild hepatitis may be treated at home. In addition to using the bathroom, should rest in bed until the fever and jaundice are gone and their appetite is normal. Children and loss of appetite should try smaller, more frequent meals and fluids rich in energy (including milkshakes). They should also eat healthy foods rich in protein and carbohydrates and drink plenty of water.

When to call the doctor

Call your doctor if your child:

• The symptoms of hepatitis
• Participate in school or child care, where someone has hepatitis
• Has been subjected to a friend or relative with the disease

If you have an older child, a volunteer emergency room, hospital or nursing home, make sure he is aware of safety rules in order to avoid contact with blood or body fluids. You may also want to have the baby vaccinated against hepatitis B. Call your doctor if you feel that your child may have been exposed to hepatitis patients.

If you know your child has hepatitis, call your doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms may be signs of worsening liver disease:

• Confusion or extreme drowsiness
• Rash

Itching

Also, monitor your child’s appetite and digestion, and call the doctor if your child’s appetite decreases, or if the increased incidence of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and jaundice.

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