WHAT IS HEPATITIS?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by various factors such as infections, excessive alcohol consumption, various medications, chemicals and toxins, metabolic disorders or even an altered own immune response. The most common cause is hepatotropic viruses, which primarily cause inflammation of the liver. Despite many preventive and curative measures, viral hepatitis is still an important public health problem in the world today,with high mortality that has already exceeded the one from aids.
Virus -Viral hepatitis:
Viruses are the smallest microorganisms that are not capable of independent life and can only multiply in living cells. Their central part, which contains the viral genome, is called the nucleus. It contains nucleic acid and often also proteins. The core of the virus is surrounded by a coat of proteins. After entering the body, hepatitis viruses begin to multiply in the liver cells, damaging them and causing inflammation.
In most cases of viral hepatitis, inflammation of the liver begins suddenly, with general symptoms such as nausea, loss of appetite, general malaise, vomiting, fever, dark-colored urine and yellow discoloration of the skin, mucous membranes and white matter, which is called jaundice. Because the symptoms in the initial period of infection are similar in all, we cannot conclude on the basis of these the type of virus that caused the disease. Often the infection goes on without obvious symptoms and those infected do not even know about the infection. After infection with hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV), patients recover completely and have no sequelae, while infection with HBV, HCV, hepatitis D virus (HDV) and rarely with hepatitis G virus (HGV) can progress to a chronic form. diseases. Before the obvious signs of the disease appear, the increased activity of liver enzymes transaminases (AST, ALT), especially ALT and alkaline phosphatase, can already be determined in the serum.Due to liver cell damage, the concentration of bilirubin in the serum, a dye that is formed during the breakdown of the blood dye hemoglobin, which is metabolized in the liver, also increases.
There are six major hepatitis viruses:
1.hepatitis A virus (HAV), 2.hepatitis B virus (HBV), 3.hepatitis C virus (HCV), 4.hepatitis D virus (HDV), which is exclusively associated with hepatitis B virus, 5.hepatitis E virus (HEV), 6.hepatitis G virus (HGV).
They all have in common that they affect the liver, but generally differ in the mode of transmission of the infection and the chances of developing a chronic infection. The clinical symptoms and signs of acute viral hepatitis are mostly the same regardless of the causative agent, and the diagnosis is only revealed by appropriate microbiological testing. HAV and HEV do not cause chronic infection and are self-healing diseases. Exceptions are rare immunocompromised patients with evidence of chronic hepatitis E. While HAV and HEV infections are acute, HBV or HCV infections can be chronic and lead to chronic inflammation of the liver, cirrhosis, extrahepatic manifestations of the disease, liver failure. and primary liver cancer. This is the third most common fatal cancer.
1.Hepatitis A In the Western world, the hepatitis A virus (HAV) causes about 25% of all symptomatic acute hepatitis. It can occur sporadically or endemically. The virus is mostly spread by the faecal-oral route or by direct contact from person to person. The main reasons for the spread of HAV are poor hygiene and sanitation and the consumption of contaminated water or. food (e.g. shellfish). People living in the same household as an infected person, promiscuous homosexual men and intravenous drug users are also more likely to be infected.
Most infections in children are asymptomatic, while in adults the symptoms are usually more pronounced and last longer. Complete spontaneous healing follows after 16-24 weeks. Treatment is symptomatic. The hepatitis A virus is inactivated by boiling, microwaving, and treatment with formaldehyde or chlorine. Infection is also prevented by good hygiene and sanitation, and by immunization: passive (immunoglobulins) and active (vaccine). Vaccination provides more than 90% protection, and protection develops a few weeks after the first dose of the vaccine. For prolonged protection, re-vaccination should be given 6-12 months after the first dose.
There is also a vaccine for this type of hepatitis that is recommended for people traveling to countries with low hygiene standards.
2.Hepatitis B
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes inflammation of the liver. The infection is most commonly transmitted through exposure to infected blood and sexual intercourse with an infected person, but can also be transmitted from an infected mother to a newborn. We can protect ourselves from infection by vaccination.
In a small number of people, hepatitis B infection becomes chronic, which can lead to liver failure, liver cancer or cirrhosis. These are conditions that cause permanent scars on the liver. Hepatitis B spreads through body fluids and mostly through the blood. Most people who become infected in adulthood recover completely, even if their signs and symptoms are severe. Infants and children are much more likely to develop a chronic hepatitis B infection. Most sufferers have no pronounced symptoms during the acute phase, but symptoms can range from jaundice, dark urine, marked fatigue, nausea, vomiting to abdominal pain.
Although there is no cure for hepatitis B, symptomatic treatment options are available and the vaccine can prevent the disease. Vaccination is recommended for infants, people being treated for a sexually transmitted infection, healthcare professionals and others working in a blood-contact environment, people with end-stage renal disease, and people traveling to areas with high hepatitis B levels.
3.Hepatitis C
It is estimated that between 130 and 150 million people in the world are infected with hepatitis C, and between 350,000 and 500,000 people die each year from liver disease as a result of hepatitis C. Most people infected with the hepatitis C virus have no symptoms, and most patients may not be aware of the hepatitis C infection for a decade after liver damage has already occurred.
HCV is a virus that causes inflammation of the liver. 20% of those infected show signs of acute viral hepatitis, while the rest have no characteristic symptoms despite the infection. The infection most often resolves spontaneously in infected children and those with a pronounced clinical picture (jaundice), but in those who do not have symptoms, the probability of spontaneous removal of the virus is significantly lower. The presence of the viral genome six months after infection indicates chronic infection.
Hepatitis C is generally considered to be one of the most serious forms of hepatitis. It is transmitted through contaminated blood, most commonly through needles that are shared during illicit drug use. The infection is treated with antiviral drugs designed to remove the virus from the body. Although there is no cure for hepatitis B, symptomatic treatment options are available and the vaccine can prevent the disease. '' Acute HCV infection in 80% of those infected is asymptomatic. When they occur, the main symptoms of acute inflammation are: fatigue, nausea, pain under the right costal arch, dark urine, loss of appetite, and jaundice. They often have enlarged livers. Acute liver failure is rare. In about 80% of infected people, the disease progresses to a chronic form. 20 to 30% of these patients develop liver cirrhosis 20 to 30 years after infection, and a small proportion of patients may develop liver cancer.
4.Hepatitis D
Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is an incomplete virus that requires coexistence of HBV infection for infection. It is estimated that out of 400 million carriers of HBV infection in the world, 5% are infected simultaneously with HDV. HDV infection is endemic in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. The infection is most often transmitted from person to person through sexual contact, through contact within the family or. common household and by transfusion of infected blood. HDV infection can occur at the same time as HBV infection, or HDV infection can spread to an infected chronic HBV carrier. HDV infection can lead to severe chronic hepatitis with rapidly progressing cirrhosis and liver failure.
5.,6. Hepatitis E,G
Infections with other hepatitis viruses are less common. The hepatitis E virus is similar to HAV in the way it spreads and the course of the disease. So far, it has only been found in South America and Africa. The hepatitis G virus has a similar mode of transmission as HBV and HCV. The antibodies formed during the infection successfully remove the virus from the body, so the disease rarely takes a chronic form.
Mass awareness of the dangers of viral hepatitis (especially types B and C) has been going on around the world for many years. Knowledge of the disease, especially knowledge of possible modes of transmission and all protective measures to prevent the spread of infection, greatly contributes to the control of these two diseases. It is important to protect ourselves from infection and to prevent infecting others if we are infected. The use of condoms during risky sex, the use of sterile needles among intravenous drug users, the implementation of basic principles of hygiene and vaccination against hepatitis B for all vulnerable groups can significantly reduce the number of infected people. Much has been done in the past with the introduction of mandatory blood testing of blood donors for both viruses, the vaccination of preschool children and healthcare professionals, as well as public information and the possibility of free anonymous testing. The work is not finished yet. Information, information and again information is needed at every step. When the disease (infection) is here, it is already a bit late, especially when it becomes chronic.
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I knew about A, B and C. I know they are transmitted