What is it?
Well first, to understand what hepatitis is, you have to know what the function of the liver is. Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver, a vital organ to the body. The liver's role in the body is very important, it makes bile, a yellow liquid used to help with digestion. The liver also provides proteins and blood clotting factors that the body needs. It regulates glucose levels and stores excess sugars in the form of glucagon. Like with bile, the liver works with the stomach and the intestines to help digest food that is eaten. Other jobs of the liver include storing minerals and vitamins, and filtering and removing toxins from the blood. Hepatitis is a disease that enlarges the liver and makes it work inefficiently. This can lead to the scarring of the liver or cirrhosis. It can also cause aggressive liver cancer. There are various forms of hepatitis, named after the viruses that cause them. Hepatitis A is named after the hepatitis A virus. excessive drug and alcohol use also leads to the formation of alcohol induced hepatitis. Hepatitis can be prevented with vaccines and treated with drugs but sometime the virus is a lifelong disease.
Types of Hepatitis
Hepatitis A - Hepatitis A, also known as infectious hepatitis is caused by consuming water or food containing human waste.
Hepatitis B - Hepatitis B can be spread from mother to child in the womb, contracted through sexual contact, or through needles contaminated with the virus. Hepatitis B can scar the liver and lead to liver cancer.
Hepatitis C - Hepatitis C is the most common viral hepatitis. This is contracted through contaminated blood transfusions or needles, and for a large amount of people, the cause is unknown. Hepatitis C is also common in 25% HIV Positive patients.
Hepatitis D - Hepatitis D is only contracted with hepatitis B and is very dangerous as it presents with it's symptoms along with the symptoms of hepatitis B.
Hepatitis E - Similar to hepatitis A, it is contracted through contaminated water and good supplies and is rarely dangerous.
Types of Hepatitis
Hepatitis A - Hepatitis A, also known as infectious hepatitis is caused by consuming water or food containing human waste.
Hepatitis B - Hepatitis B can be spread from mother to child in the womb, contracted through sexual contact, or through needles contaminated with the virus. Hepatitis B can scar the liver and lead to liver cancer.
Hepatitis C - Hepatitis C is the most common viral hepatitis. This is contracted through contaminated blood transfusions or needles, and for a large amount of people, the cause is unknown. Hepatitis C is also common in 25% HIV Positive patients.
Hepatitis D - Hepatitis D is only contracted with hepatitis B and is very dangerous as it presents with it's symptoms along with the symptoms of hepatitis B.
Hepatitis E - Similar to hepatitis A, it is contracted through contaminated water and good supplies and is rarely dangerous.
How is it treated?
The treatment for hepatitis can vary depending on which form of the disease you have. The usual way to treat hepatitis is:
-Lot of bed rest
-Abstaining from alcohol
-Medication
-Transplant
In rare cases, such as hepatitis B and C, a transplant or partial transplant may be needed in order to survive.
-Lot of bed rest
-Abstaining from alcohol
-Medication
-Transplant
In rare cases, such as hepatitis B and C, a transplant or partial transplant may be needed in order to survive.
How is it diagnosed?
What are the complications?
Hepatitis of any type is usually diagnosed with a liver biopsy but can also be diagnosed with chest palpitations and chest X-Rays and MRIs.
What are the symptoms?
The usual symptoms of hepatitis are:
-Jaundice
-Fatigue
-Nausea
-Stomach pain
-Diarrhea
-No appetite
-Headache
-Fever
-Jaundice
-Fatigue
-Nausea
-Stomach pain
-Diarrhea
-No appetite
-Headache
-Fever
What are the complications
There are some serious complications to hepatitis, a lot of which are life threatening conditions and ailments.
-Cirrohsis and fibrosis of the liver (scarring)
-Liver Failure
-Liver Cancer
-Cirrohsis and fibrosis of the liver (scarring)
-Liver Failure
-Liver Cancer
What are the risk factors?
There are several risk factors that can lead to lifestyle choices, and changes:
-Living in unsanitary places where food and water is unclean and contains contaminated human feces
-Excessive alcohol and drug abuse
-Sharing needles with infected person
-Living in unsanitary places where food and water is unclean and contains contaminated human feces
-Excessive alcohol and drug abuse
-Sharing needles with infected person
References
National Institute for Health. (2009). Feature Hepatitis: The Dangers of Hepatitis: What you should know from A to E. Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/spring09/articles/spring09pg22-23.html
National Institute for Health. (2009). Feature Hepatitis: The Dangers of Hepatitis: What you should know from A to E. Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/spring09/articles/spring09pg22-23.html