Hepatitis
Definition:
A Widespread Damage Of The Liver,Mostly Due To Infective Or Toxic Agents.
Causes Of
Hepatitis
Infections:Hepatitis A Virus
Hepatitis B Virus
Non A Non B Virus
Cytomegalo Virus
Epstein Barr Virus
Yellow Fever Virus
Toxic Agents
: Usually Caused By Body Reaction To
The Agents.The Effect On Liver Depends On The Frequency Of Use More Than The
Dose Of The Agents.
Drugs : Largatil,Erythromycin,Isoniazide,
Methyldopa, Indomethacin Etc.
Others : Tetracycline,Paracetamol, Poisonous
Mushroom, Alcohol.
Functions Of
The Liver That Can Be Affected
.
Carbohydrate Metabolism {Glycogenolysis And Gluconeogenesis}
.
Protein Metabolism
. Plasma
Protein Synthesis
. Production
Of Urea
. Lipid
Metabolism
. Bilirubin
Production{ Bile Production}
. Vitamins
And Minerals –Storage
. Hormones –
Degradation
. Drug And
Alcohol Metabolism
Viral Hepatitis
: Is The Liver Damage Caused By Viruses
3 Types :Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Non A, Non B
They All
Have Similar Signs And Symptoms
Acute Type A
Hepatitis
Caused By
Hepatitis A Virus Which Is Difficult To Culture Except For Research Purposes
How To
Contact
. Feco –Oral
Route {Human Faeces Entering The Body Via The Mouth
. Through
The Body Fluid E.G The Blood Through Transfusion, Semen Through Homosexual In
Men
Overcrowding
And Poor Sanitation Facilitate The Spread
Signs And
Symptoms
. Fever
Raise In Body Temperature
. Headache
. Malaise {
Feeling Of Being Unwell}
. Anorexia
Loss Of Appetite
. Distaste
For Cigarette
.Nausea And
Vomiting
. Diarrhea
. Steady
Upper Abdominal Pain
.
Enlargement Of The Liver {Hepatomegaly}
.
Enlargement Of Trhe Lymph Nodes In The Neck
.
Enlargement Of The Spleen { Splenomegally}
The Above
Symptoms Are Called Prodromal Symptoms
Which May Be Few Days To 2 Weeks
Then – Dark
Urine
. Onset Of
Jaundice May Become Deeper
. Stool
Becomes Paler
Thereafter,
The Patient Recovers In The Course Of 3 – 6 Weeks.
Milder Cases
Of Hepatitis A Occur Without Jaundice
Lab Investigation
. Serum
Aminotransferase
. Serum
Bilirubin
.Balkaline
Phosphatase
. Prothombin
Time
. Urine
Bilirubin And Urubilinogen
. Urine
Protein
. Full Blood
Count
. Anti
Hepatitis A Virus Measurement
Prognosis :Hepatitis
A Is A Self Limiting Disease, Almost All Patients Make Full Recovery.
In 5 – 15%,
There May Be Relapsing Hepatitis Which Almost Always Subside Spontaneously.
Death Is
Uncommon.
Development Of Chronic Liver Disease Is Not Featured
Hepatitis A.
Treatment
. Improve Overcrowded And Unhygienic
Situation
. Rest The Liver By Avoiding Fats,
Oils,Proteins And Alcohol
. Multivitamins To Revitalize The
Liver.
. Injection Of Immune Serum Globulin –
For 3 Months
. No Vaccine Against Type A Hepatitis
Yet
There Are 2
Types Of Types B:Acute Type B Hepatitis An Chronic Asymptomatic
Acute Type B
Hepatitis
This Disease
Is Caused By Type B Hepatitis Virus Which Cannot Be Grown On Any Culture.
How To
Spread It
. Blood And Certain Blood Products –
Use Of Contaminated Needles As In Drug
Abusers, And Acupuncture
. Saliva – Close Personal Contact
. Semen – Sexual Intercourse
Homosexual
. Mother To
Child – At Or Soon After Birth
.
Transplacental –Not Sure
Incubation Period
Is About 3 Months
Sign And
Symptoms
.Similar To
But Usually More Severe Than Type A
. Other
Symptoms
. Transient
Rash Including Urticaria
. Arthralgia
[Pain In The Joints}
. Arthritis
[Infection In The Joints}
In About 5%
Of Cases Of Acute Type B Hepatitis, Chronic Hepatitis B Carriage Follows The
Acute Episode
Chronic Asymptomatic
Carriers
In This Type
Of Hepatitis, There Is No History And No Clinical Evidence Of Liver Disease But They Have H Bag
In The Blood. The Liver Functions Well.
. Some May
Carry The Virus For Many Years Without Sever Chronic Liver Disease
. Some Develop Chronic Hepatitis, Cirrhosis And
Hepatocellulr Carcinomia
Spread -Through Close Body Contact
Body
Fluids
Impaired Immune Responses
Treatment
. No
Specific Treatment Is Available, Best Is To Avoid It.
Supportive Therapy
. Screen Blood Before Transfusion
. Use Sterile Needles And Syringes
. I M Injection Of Hyperimmune Serum
Globulin Prepared From Blood Containing Anti Hepatitis B Antibodies Within 24
Hours To 1 Week Of Exposure
. Immunization
