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.