Hepatitis - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

There are many kind's of Hepatitis.Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. Good personal hygiene and proper sanitation can help prevent hepatitis A. Hepatitis B is a serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver.Hepatitis B vaccine is available for all age groups to prevent hepatitis B virus infection. Hepatitis C is a disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis D is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis D virus (HDV), a defective virus that needs the hepatitis B virus to exist. Hepatitis E is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis E virus (HEV). Hepatitis is a common acute infectious disease of the liver, acute viral hepatitis (hepar-,liver-, itis inflammation or infection) is caused by a virus that enters via the mouth, spread by personto- person contact and by fecally contaminated food and water. The disease, also known as hepatitis A, often can be so mild that there is no awareness of its presence, although it still can be passed on to others.

Infectious canine hepatitis is an acute liver infection in dogs caused by canine adenovirus type-1 (CAV-1). CAV-1 also causes disease in wolves , coyotes , and bears , and encephalitis in foxes . Hepatitis is a gastroenterological disease, featuring inflammation of the liver . When hepatitis A does produce symptoms. they may resemble those of flu or gastroenteritis in the beginning. There may be lassitude, weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal discomfort, fever, and headache. Often, the liver disease is distinguishable from flu by a loss of taste for smoking and a tender and aching liver, causing pain or pressure below the ribs of the right side. The urine alsomay be dark. After four to seven days,jaundice (yellow tint to whites of eyes and skin) may develop along with generalized itching, increased nausea and vomiting, the appearance of tight-colored stools, and sometimes diarrhea. After another week or two, improvement begins but convalescence can be drawn out to weeks or months.

Causes of Hepatitis

Here are the list of some of the possible causes of Hepatitis:

• A large number of drugs can cause hepatitis. The anti - diabetic drug troglitazone was withdrawn in 2000 for causing hepatitis.
• Toxins and drugs can cause hepatitis
• Paracetamol (acetaminophen in the United States) can cause hepatitis when taken in an overdose.
• Carbon tetrachloride ("tetra", a dry cleaning agent), chloroform , and trichloroethylene , all chlorinated hydrocarbons , cause steatohepatitis (hepatitis with fatty liver ).
• The virus, which is called hepatitis B virus (HBV), can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death.

Symptoms of Hepatitis

Some sign and symptoms related to Hepatitis:

• Hepatitis is characterised by malaise , joint aches, abdominal pain , vomiting 2-3 times per day for the first 5 days, loss of appetite, dark urine, fever , hepatomegaly (enlarged liver) and jaundice (icterus, yellowing of the eyes and skin).
• Certain liver function tests can also indicate hepatitis.
• Some chronic forms of hepatitis show very few of these signs and are only present when the longstanding inflammation has led to the replacement of liver cells by connective tissue ; the result is cirrhosis .
• It is very helpful to evaluate symptoms and signs in diagnosing the causes of health problems and in monitoring the status of diagnosed diseases.
• nausea
• muscle or joint aches

Treatment of Hepatitis

There is no specific treatment for the virus. Bed rest is advisable when symptoms are at their height-and most patients will want to be in bed during that time. The diet should be well balanced with adequate calories to avoid malnutrition. Assymptoms begin to subside, bed rest is not essential. Treatment and prevention tips related to Hepatitis:

• The only treatment for hepatitis B is rest, combined with a high protein/high carbohydrate diet to repair damaged liver cells and protect the liver.
• The only approved treatment for hepatitis C virus, and the only one with demonstrated efficacy, is interferon alfa-2b (Intron A).
• There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A. The doctor will recommend the abstinence of alcohol and drugs during recovery.
• For treatment of nonviral hepatitis, the doctor will first remove the harmful substance by flushing out the stomach via inducing vomiting or hyperventilation.
• Some physicians consider it possible to protect people in family and others in close contact with a patient by injection of immune serum globulin, although effectiveness is not generally agreed upon by all medical authorities.
• To prevent hepatitis A, remember to: Wash hands well after using any washroom, Eat only freshly cooked foods.