Viral hepatitis is a group of common and dangerous infectious diseases for humans, which differ quite significantly between are caused by different viruses, but still have a common feature - a disease that primarily affects the human liver and causes it inflammation.
Therefore, viral hepatitis of different species is often combined under the name "jaundice" - one of the most common symptoms of hepatitis.
Classification
According to the duration of the process, viral hepatitis can occur:
- Acute - up to 3 months (hepatitis A);
- Prolonged - up to 6 months (hepatitis B, C);
- Chronic - more than 6 months (hepatitis B, C, D).
According to the severity of clinical manifestations, there are:
- Asymptomatic forms (virus carrier is characteristic for hepatitis B, C, subclinical form can be with any hepatitis).
- Manifest forms (may be icteric and jaundiced).
Viral hepatitis is characterized by a cyclic and acyclic (with exacerbations) flow.
How are viral hepatitis transmitted
Infections are transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person. Transmission paths can be the following:
- Hepatitis A - feces, saliva;
- Hepatitis B - blood, semen, saliva, perinatal (infection of the child from the mother);
- Hepatitis C - blood;
- Hepatitis E - feces, saliva;
- Hepatitis D - blood, sperm.
The incubation period varies considerably in duration.
- Hepatitis A - from 2 to 6 weeks;
- Hepatitis B - from 8 to 24 weeks;
- Hepatitis C - from 6 to 12 weeks;
- Hepatitis E - from 2 to 8 weeks;
- Hepatitis D - not established.
Hepatitis A, E and F can be treated only once in a lifetime, hepatitis caused by other types of viruses can occur in the same person repeatedly. There is a possibility of developing the disease even after liver transplantation.
What happens after the hepatitis virus enters the body?
With the blood flow, the viruses enter the liver. On the liver cells there is a receptor protein CD81, binding to which the virus penetrates into the cell. Then begins the pernicious work, characteristic for all viruses. The virus builds its RNA into the genetic apparatus of the cell. And already here, as on the matrix, the exact copies of the virus, one after the other, begin to "print" one after another, forming a new membrane inside the cell.
This continues until the cell itself dies due to incompatible life-related disorders caused by the virus, or it will not be destroyed by the body's own immune system. After cell death and destruction, newborn viruses enter the extracellular space and infect other cells that have not yet been affected. The process is repeated again.
Signs of viral hepatitis
Regardless of the form of the disease, viral hepatitis has similar common symptoms:
- Dyspeptic disorders (nausea, vomiting, belching, bitterness in the mouth, loss of appetite);
- General malaise (sometimes the onset of viral hepatitis resembles influenza - there is a rise in body temperature, headache, body aches);
- Pain in the right hypochondrium (prolonged, paroxysmal, aching, obtuse, giving to the right shoulder blade or shoulder);
- Jaundice - yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes (but there are also jaundiced forms of hepatitis);
- Darkening of urine, discoloration of feces;
- Itching itch.
The most unfavorable outcome of acute hepatitis is chronic disease. Chronic viral hepatitis is dangerous because they gradually lead to the development of cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Hepatitis A - Botkin's disease
The most common and least dangerous viral hepatitis. The incubation period of infection is from 7 days to 2 months. Infection occurs through eating poor-quality food. In addition, acute hepatitis A is transmitted through direct contact with the things of a sick person and dirty hands.
In most cases, the infection ends in spontaneous recovery, but sometimes patients are prescribed droppers, which reduce the intensity of toxic effects on the liver.
Hepatitis B
This is a heavier disease than hepatitis A, since hepatitis B can lead to serious liver damage. Infect the hepatitis B virus through blood, through sexual contact, and the virus can be transmitted from mother to fetus during childbirth.
Just like Botkin's disease, hepatitis B begins with fever. The patient is concerned about pain in the joints, weakness, nausea and vomiting. With hepatitis B, there may be an increase in the liver and spleen, as well as darkening of the urine and discoloration of the stool. Jaundice with hepatitis B is rare. Lesions of the liver can be very severe, up to the development of liver cirrhosis and cancer. Treatment of hepatitis B is complex with the use of hepatoprotectors, antibiotics, hormones and drugs for the immune system.
Hepatitis C
In turn, it has 11 subspecies, which differ in the set of genes of the virus-pathogen. In this regard, at the moment, there is no effective vaccine against the disease. Among all viral hepatitis, hepatitis C is the most severe form that predisposes to the chronic course of the disease.
The most common methods of infection - with transfusion of infected blood, the use of surgical and dental instruments, with promiscuous sexual intercourse. Treatment of hepatitis C is the most expensive among other types of the disease.
.Hepatitis D
Symptoms of hepatitis D completely correspond to the symptoms of hepatitis B. Infection with hepatitis B and D viruses, as a rule, occurs simultaneously, because the hepatitis D virus can not exist in the human body independently. With the development of a mixed infection of hepatitis B and D, severe forms of the disease often lead to cirrhosis of the liver.
Hepatitis E
Viral hepatitis E is caused by an RNA-containing virus similar to rotaviruses. Methods for its cloning have been developed, a test system has been created to confirm the diagnosis. The source of infection are patients with viral hepatitis E from the end of the incubation and during the acute period of the disease.
The main pathway is water, epidemic outbreaks are described in countries with a hot climate. With the flow resembles a viral hepatitis A with a predominantly mild course and recovery. A distinctive feature of viral hepatitis E is its course in pregnant women: frequent spontaneous abortion and rapidly growing signs of acute liver failure with a mortality rate of up to 25% and higher.
Treatment
When prescribing therapy, it is taken into account which particular virus caused the disease. In viral hepatitis, the basis of treatment, as a rule, is antiviral agents, interferons, which contribute to the development of the body antibodies aimed at fighting viruses, hepatoprotectors, antihistamines. In severe form of the disease, intravenous infusion of Reamberin, administration of hormonal agents, and rarely antibiotics are indicated.
Treatment of viral hepatitis for a long time, is carried out in a hospital. During this time, the patient is forbidden to drink alcohol and fat, work-loaded food. When complicating the disease with cirrhosis, liver transplantation may be required.
Prevention of viral hepatitis
To protect yourself from infection with hepatitis, you must follow simple rules of prevention. Do not use unboiled water, always wash fruits and vegetables, do not neglect the heat treatment of foods. So you can prevent infection with hepatitis A.
In general, it is necessary to avoid contact with other people's biological fluids. For protection against hepatitis B and C - primarily with blood. In microscopic amounts, blood can remain on razors, toothbrushes, and nail scissors. Do not share these items with other people. You can not do piercings and tattoos with non-sterile instruments. It is necessary to take precautionary measures during sexual intercourse.
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