Disease, Illness and Condition Library
Hepatitis
of the liver and refers to a group of viral disorders commonly known as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Another type of hepatitis is brought about by alcohol abuse or the use of drugs, or by ingestion of toxins in the environment. Hepatitis is the most common of all serious contagious diseases with about 70,000 cases reported to the CDC each year. While 70,000 is a very large number, researchers now estimate that the total number of people in the United States who actually have the disease is closer to 500,000. Many hepatitis cases go undiagnosed because they are mistaken for the flu. Hepatitis is serious because it interferes with the livers ability to perform its many functions. Among other things the liver produces bile to aid in digestion, regulates the chemical composition of the blood, and screens potentially harmful substances from the bloodstream. There are five viruses that cause hepatitis and can be transmitted in different ways, but they all have one thing in common: They infect the liver and cause it to become inflamed. Generally, the acute phase of the disease lasts from two to three weeks; complete recovery takes about nine weeks. While most patients recover with a lifelong immunity to the disease, a few hepatitis victims (less than 1 percent) die in the acute phase. Others may develop chronic hepatitis, in which the liver remains inflamed for six months or more. This condition can lead to cirrhosis and possibly death. Causes While their effects on the liver and the symptoms they produce can be similar, the various forms of hepatitis are contracted in different ways. In the case of viral hepatitis, the severity and duration of the disease is largely determined by the organism that caused it. Hepatitis A, which is generally contracted orally through fecal contamination of food or water, is considered the least dangerous form of the disease because it does not lead to chronic inflammation of the liver. The hepatitis A virus is commonly spread through improper food handling, contact with household members, sharing toys at daycare centers, and eating raw shellfish taken from polluted water. Hepatitis B is the most common of the hepatitis viruses and infects an estimated 300,000 people in the United States alone. The virus can pass from mother to child at birth or soon afterward; the disease organism can also travel between adults and children to infect whole families. Hepatitis B can also spread through blood transfusions, sexual contact, or needle sharing by intravenous drug users. In 35 percent of all cases the source cannot be identified. The majority of hepatitis B patients recover completely, but a small percentage of them can’t shake the disease and may develop chronic hepatitis and possibly cirrhosis. People with chronic hepatitis become carriers, meaning they can transmit the disease to others even when their own symptoms have vanished. For about 2 percents of hepatitis B sufferers the condition will prove fatal. Hepatitis C is normally spread through contact with blood or contaminated needles. Although hepatitis C may cause only mild symptoms or none at all, 20 to 30 percent of chronic carriers develop cirrhosis within ten years. The disease can be passed on through blood transfusions, but fairly recent medical advances have greatly reduced the number of such cases. In a third of all hepatitis cases, the source of the disease is unknown. Hepatitis D occurs only in people infected with hepatitis B and tends to magnify the severity of the disease. It can be transmitted from mother to child and through sexual contact. Rarest among the five hepatitis viruses, hepatitis D is also the most dangerous because it involves two forms of the disease working at once. Hepatitis E occurs predominately in Mexico, Asia, and Africa; only a few cases are reported in the United States, and those are mostly among people who have returned from a country where the disease is widespread. Like hepatitis A, this type is usually spread through fecal contamination, and it does not lead to chronic hepatitis. This form is considered slightly more dangerous than hepatitis A, especially in pregnant women. Alcohol, toxic, and drug related hepatitis can produce the same symptoms, as well as liver inflammation, that result from viral hepatitis. This form is not cause by invading microorganisms but from excessive and chronic consumption of alcohol, ingestion of environmental toxins, or misuse of certain prescription drugs and over the counter medications such as acetaminophen. Symptoms As discussed above many cases of hepatitis go undiagnosed because the disease is mistaken for the flu or because there are not symptoms at all. The most common symptoms of hepatitis are: * Abdominal pain * Loss of appetite * Fatigue * Mild fever * Muscle or joint aches * Nausea and vomiting * Less Common Symptoms * Altered mental state, stupor, or coma * Dark urine * Generalized itching * Jaundice * Light colored stools Prevention The keys to avoiding hepatitis are vaccinations, good hygiene, and a healthy dose of common sense. Adequate sanitation and clean personal habits will help reduce the spread of hepatitis A and hepatitis E. In areas where sanitation is poor, boil water. Cook all food well and peel all fruit. If you are a healthcare worker involved in the treatment of patients with hepatitis B, C, or E you should wash your hands, utensils, bedding, and clothing with soap and hot water, especially in the first two weeks of illness, when the patient is most contagious. For those planning to travel to countries where hepatitis is widespread are advised to have immune serum globulin shots or vaccinations before leaving. Immune serum globulin may prevent infection from some types of hepatitis after exposure if administered within 48 hours. To prevent the spread of hepatitis B, avoid exposure to infectious blood or body fluids. Do not have intimate contact or share razors, scissors, nail files, toothbrushes, or needles with any one who has the disease. If you suspect you have been exposed, you should receive immune serum globulin and vaccinations for hepatitis A and hepatitis B as soon as possible. |
| Diet Can Prove Helpful The right kind of diet can be a very important part of how your body deals with a case of hepatitis. If you are suffering from acute or chronic hepatitis, you should increase your intake of fiber, including whole grain cereals, fruits and vegetables, and cooked dried beans and peas. These food facilitate the elimination of bile acids and toxins that can accumulate in the liver and gallbladder. Some nutritionists believe that large doses of vitamin C, perhaps taken intravenously, can improve viral hepatitis by reducing inflammation in the liver. Research studies also suggest that large doses of vitamin B-12 and folic acid may reduce the time it takes a patient to recover from the disease. Consult your doctor for the vitamins and dosages that are right for you. |
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