Hepatitis

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, usually caused by a viral infection, which is characterized by jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes).
Causes and Types

The disease is caused by several viruses, but the most common are those that cause hepatitis A (called infectious hepatitis), hepatitis B (called serum hepatitis), and hepatitis C (called non-A, non-B hepatitis).

Hepatitis A is transmitted from person to person via contaminated food (either food handled by someone infected with the virus or undercooked shellfish from waters contaminated with the virus) or water or contact with the stools of an infected person. This disease may occur in epidemics where sanitation is poor and the water supply is contaminated. The incubation period (the time between exposure and the appearance of symptoms) is between 14 and 40 days. Sometimes, hepatitis A is so mild that symptoms never appear, but the infected person can still be a carrier and can transmit the disease to others.

In hepatitis B, the virus enters the bloodstream through contact with contaminated blood or other body fluids, such as semen, or with stool or through the use of contaminated hypodermic needles. Hepatitis B begins more gradually than does hepatitis A, so the disease may be present 40 to 180 days before the onset of symptoms. Because the virus can live in almost all body fluids, including saliva, semen, stool, and tears, hepatitis B can be transmitted by sexual contact or, rarely, by casual contact.

Hepatitis C virus is presumed to be a major cause of what was previously known as "non-A, non-B hepatitis." The incubation period of the virus is somewhere between that of A and B, and its mode of transmission is similar to B. It's the most common cause of post-transfusion hepatitis.

Chronic hepatitis is a condition of persistent (more than six months) inflammation of the liver. It is most frequently due to infection with hepatitis B or C virus. Although some forms of chronic hepatitis can be mild, others can lead to severe liver damage and cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is a condition in which the liver is so scarred and distorted that it is no longer able to perform its functions normally. The diagnosis of chronic hepatitis is usually confirmed by liver biopsy. In this procedure, a local anesthetic is injected into the right upper abdomen. A thin needle is inserted into the liver, and a section of tissue is removed for examination under a microscope. This procedure rarely requires a hospital stay of more than six hours.

Hepatitis that is not caused by any of the above viruses can be associated with mononucleosis and other viral illnesses; hepatitis can also be an adverse side effect of certain medications.
Symptoms

Early signs of acute hepatitis include general fatigue, joint and muscle pain, and loss of appetite. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea or constipation may follow, with a low-grade fever of 101 degreees Farenheit or less. As the disease develops, the liver enlarges and becomes tender. Chills, weight loss, and a change in the perception of taste appear along with the characteristic jaundice. Jaundice results from an accumulation of yellow bile pigment in the blood, which turns the skin and the whites of the eyes yellow.

In hepatitis A, the disappearance of jaundice generally signals the clearing of the virus from the blood. However, in hepatitis B or C, the virus may persist for years or even a lifetime.
Diagnosis

To determine the extent and severity of hepatitis, a physician analyzes blood specimens from the patient. Usually, over the course of several weeks, the liver function tests (blood tests sometimes called liver enzymes) return to normal. Most individuals recover completely and are immune to reinfection with the particular virus they had.

Now that we have learned about the causes, symptoms, and diagnosis of hepatitis, let's look into the treatment and prevention in the next section.

Treatment and Prevention

There is no cure for viral hepatitis, and treatment options are limited, especially for acute hepatitis. Once the virus attacks, recovery is usually up to the body's natural defense mechanisms.

To encourage the healing process, physicians advise patients to avoid strenuous activity. Bed rest is important during the acute phase of hepatitis. More serious cases may require hospitalization to ensure adequate nutrition.

All hepatitis patients must avoid alcoholic beverages, because processing alcohol puts a tremendous strain on the liver. All medications taken, including over-the-counter (nonprescription) preparations, must first be approved by the physician, because the liver is responsible for clearing most medications from the body. Inflammation of the liver may lessen its ability to perform this function and thus lead to increased levels of the medications in the body, which can cause toxic effects. The treatment of chronic hepatitis depends on its form as well as its severity.
Prevention

Individuals who have been exposed to hepatitis A or who are or have been traveling to areas of the world in which it is common will probably benefit from hepatitis A vaccine. For those who will be traveling to areas where hepatitis A is common, the vaccine must be administered at least two weeks before travel begins. (Information for travelers about what diseases are common in various foreign countries, as well as recommendations for pretravel immunizations can be obtained from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the CDC, at www.cdc.gov.

Hepatitis B can be effectively prevented by a vaccine as well. The vaccine consists of three injections: right away, one month later, and six months later. The hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all individuals at high risk of hepatitis, and recently, the vaccine has been recommended for all children as well. There is, as yet, no vaccine available for the prevention of hepatitis C.



This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.