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Hepatitis, a general term that means
inflammation of the liver, applies to a group of viral disorders
commonly known as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Another type
pf hepatitis is brought on through alcohol abuse or the use
of drugs, or by ingestion of toxins in the environment.
Hepatitis is the most common of all serious contagious diseases.
Many hepatitis cases go undiagnosed because they are mistaken
for the flu. Hepatitis
is very serious because it interferes with the liver's many
functions. Among many other things, the liver produces bile
to aid digestion, regulates the chemical composition of the
blood, and screens potentially harmful substances from the bloodstream.
The five viruses that cause hepatitis, (Hepatitis A, B, C, D
& E) can be transmitted in different ways, but they all have
one thing in common: they infect the liver and cause it to become
inflamed.
Although their effects on the liver and the symptoms they produce
can be similar, the various forms of hepatitis are contracted
in different ways.
Hepatitis A
Generally contracted orally through fecal
contamination of food or water and is considered the least dangerous
form of the disease because it does not lead to chronic inflammation
of the liver, but in some cases has been life- threatening.
The hepatitis A virus commonly spreads through improper handling
of food, contaminated water, contact with household members
and pets, sharing toys at day-care centers and eating raw fish
and shellfish taken from polluted waters.
Hepatitis
B
The most widespread virus of all the hepatitis viruses. The
virus can pass from mother to child at birth or soon afterwards;
the disease organism can also travel between adults and children
to infect whole families. Hepatitis B can also spread through
sexual contact, blood transfusions and needle sharing by intravenous
drug users. In 1/3 of all hepatitis B cases, the source has
not been identified.
The majority of hepatitis B patients eventually recover; some
can't shake the disease and may develop chronic hepatitis and
possibly cirrhosis of the liver. People with chronic hepatitis
become carriers, meaning they can transmit the disease to others
even when their own symptoms have vanished.
Hepatitis
C
Usually spread through contact with blood or contaminated needles.
Although hepatitis C may cause only mild symptoms or none at
all, 20 % to 30% of chronic carriers develop cirrhosis of the
liver within 10 years. The disease can be passed on through
blood transfusions. In 1/3 of all hepatitis C cases, the source
of the disease is unknown.
Hepatitis
D
Occurs only in people infected with hepatitis B, and tends to
magnify the severity of that disease. It can be transmitted
from mother to child and through sexual contact. The least common
among the five hepatitis viruses, hepatitis D is also the most
dangerous because it involves two forms of the disease working
at once.
Hepatitis
E
Occurs mainly in Asia, Mexico, and Africa, among people who
have returned from a country where the disease is widespread.
Like hepatitis A, this type is usually spread through fecal
contamination, and it does not lead to chronic hepatitis. This
form is considered more dangerous than hepatitis A, especially
in pregnant women.
Alcohol, toxic (toxins in the bloodstream), and drug-related
hepatitis can produce the same symptoms and liver inflammation
that result from viral hepatitis. This form is not caused by
invading microorganisms, but by excessive and chronic consumption
of alcohol, ingestion of environmental toxins, or gross misuse of
certain prescription drugs and over the counter medications
such as acetaminophen (Tylenol).
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Some of the Symptoms
of Hepatitis
Many
cases of hepatitis go undiagnosed because the disease is mistaken
for the flu or because there are no symptoms at all. The most
common symptoms of hepatitis are:
Dark urine (94% of patients)
Fatigue (93% of patients)
Loss of appetite (90% of patients)
Nausea (87% of patients)
Mild Fever (76% of patients)
Vomiting (71% of patients)
Headache (70% of patients)
Abdominal discomfort or pain (65% of patients)
Light colored stools (52% of patients)
Muscle pain (52% of patients)
Drowsiness (49% of patients)
Irritability or altered mental state (43%
of patients)
Itching (42% of patients)
Diarrhea or loose stools (30 % of patients)
Joint pain (21% of patients)
The Importance
of Nutritional Support when treating Hepatitis
The right diet
can play a very important role in how your body handles a case
of hepatitis. If you have hepatitis you should increase your
intake of fiber,
including whole grain cereals, fruits, and vegetables and cooked
dried beans (not canned), and fresh cooked peas. These foods
may encourage the elimination of bile acids and toxins that
can accumulate in the liver
and gallbladder.
Additionally, some nutritionists contend that large doses of
Vitamin
C can improve viral hepatitis by helping to reduce inflammation
in the liver. Also, Vitamin
B12 and folic
acid may help reduce the time that it takes someone to recover
from hepatitis.
Healthcare providers involved in the treatment of hepatitis
B, C, and E, should wash their hands, utensils, bedding, and
clothing with soap and hot water, especially in the first two
weeks of illness, when the patient is most contagious.
To prevent the spread of hepatitis B, avoid exposure to infectious
blood or bodily fluids. In areas where sanitation is questionable,
boil the water, cook all food well, and peel all fruit.
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