Guest guest Posted January 1, 2002 Report Share Posted January 1, 2002 http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/hepatitis.htm What is hepatitis? Hepatitis is the Latin word for liver inflammation. It is characterised by the destruction of a number of liver cells and the presence of inflammatory cells in the liver tissue. Hepatitis can be caused by diseases which primarily attack the liver cells. It can also arise as a result of a disease such as mononucleosis.Hepatitis can be divided into two subgroups according to its duration: acute hepatitis (lasting less than 6 months) and chronic hepatitis (lasting longer than 6 months). What can cause acute hepatitis? Acute hepatitis has a number of possible causes: Infectious viral hepatitis such as: Hepatitis AHepatitis BHepatitis CHepatitis DHepatitis E Other viral diseases such as: Mononucleosis Cytomegalovirus Severe bacterial infections. Amoebic infections. Medicines: Paracetamol poisoningAn anaesthetic called halothane Toxins: AlcoholFungal toxins, eg toadstool poisoning What can cause chronic hepatitis? Chronic hepatitis also has a number of different causes: Contagious viral hepatitis such as:Hepatitis BHepatitis C Hepatitis D Medicines Toxins such as alcohol Autoimmune hepatitis. This is a disease in which a number of liver cells are destroyed by the patient's own immune system. Autoimmune hepatitis can also sometimes occur as acute hepatitis. The cause is unknown. Inborn metabolic disorders such as: 's disease (disorder of the body's copper metabolism). Haemochromatosis (disorder of the body's iron metabolism). How do you get hepatitis? A person can develop hepatitis if he or she contracts one of the viruses which can cause liver inflammation, or as a result of exposure to substances which can cause hepatitis - alcohol, fungal toxins, and medicines. There are two ways in which medicines can lead to hepatitis: it can either occur as a result of medicine poisoning through over-doses of a medicine (e.g. paracetamol), or it can occur as a result of an abnormal reaction of the liver to a normal dose (e.g. halothane, the anaesthetic ). Fortunately, the latter type of hepatitis is rare. What are the symptoms of hepatitis? Acute hepatitis: The symptoms of acute hepatitis vary considerably from person to person. Some patients have no symptoms at all, and in most cases, children only show mild symptoms. In the early stages: Tiredness, general malaise, slight feverNausea, poor appetite, changes in taste perceptionPressure or pain below the right ribs caused by an enlarged liver Aching muscles and joints, headache, skin rash The jaundice phase: Yellowing of sclerae (the white portions of the eyes), skin and mucous membranesDark urineLight-coloured stoolsAround this time, the other symptoms subside The recovery phase: Tiredness which can last for weeks Chronic hepatitis: Many patients have no symptoms Tiredness, an increased need for sleep, aching muscles and joints Periodic light pressure or pain below the right ribs - enlarged liver Jaundice is a very late symptom of chronic hepatitis. It is a sign that the disease has become serious. Who is at risk of hepatitis? Patients with jaundice or other symptoms of hepatitis. People who are very likely to have contracted the hepatitis B or the hepatitis C virus. People who are at increased risk due to a hereditary type of hepatitis in their families. ETC. >>>>>>>>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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