HEPATITIS
is simply the inflammation of the
liver. There are two types of hepatitis;
1) ACUTE; it is caused by one of three
viruses, Virus A, B or Virus non A non B.
2) CHRONIC; this is caused by acute
hepatitis, excess of alcohol, use of certain drugs, or autoimmune diseases.
Other infections such as dysentery and malaria may inflame the liver.
SYMPTOMS OF
HEPATITIS
-
Loss of
appetite.
- The patient may experience fluctuating fever, feel nausea, and may vomit.
- After a week these symptoms disappear, and are replace by Jaundice.
- The skin and the white of the eye turn yellow
- Urine is also dark coloured
-
The patient
often feels better once the jaundice appears but may still feel weak and tired,
the jaundice lasts for between one or three weeks, after which the patient
often becomes depressed. The depression may last for a further one or two
months.
- The symptoms of all forms of viral hepatitis are similar, however the symptoms of hepatitis caused by B virus take longer to develop and tend to be more severe. It is this form of hepatitis that is sometimes fatal, with the development of Acute Yellow Atrophy of the liver.
- While chronic hepatitis means liver inflammation lasting for longer than six months, symptoms include persistent nausea, fatigue, and jaundice .
- The
condition may be mild or chronic active leading to cirrhosis of the liver.
MEANS OF
CONTRACTION
The three
viruses are transmitted in different ways. Virus A is contracted by drinking water or eating
food that has been contaminated by faeces of an infected person.
Virus B is
usually transmitted either in saliva or in the faeces of an infected person. It
can also be spread through contaminated hypodermic needles, and is common among
drug addicts.
Alcohol and
drugs can cause hepatitis, Alcohol leads to the accumulation of fat globules in
the liver cells. If large quantities of alcohol is regularly consumed, the
cells become distended with fats , burst and die. The death of the cells
produces chemical changes and causes inflammation of the surrounding liver
cells. Untreated, alcoholic hepatitis leads to cirrhosis and liver failure.
TREATMENT OF HEPATITIS
In the
initial stages, treatment involves bed rest,
after the acute stage has passed,
the patient can gradually resume normal activities.
The patient
needs not be totally isolated but it is essential that the faeces and urine are
carefully disposed of to prevent the spread of the infection. Injections of
gamma globulin may be given to persons who have come into close and prolonged
contact with the patient , although it depends on the physicians advise.
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