What Is Hepatitis? Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

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What Is Hepatitis? Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

Medical News Today

Article Date: 13 Apr 2009 - 2:00 PDT

The word hepatitis comes from the Ancient Greek word hepar (root word hepat)

meaning 'liver', and the Latin itis meaning inflammation. Hepatitis means injury

to the liver with inflammation of the liver cells.

This article has sections on:

What is the liver?

How many types of hepatitis are there?

What are the signs and symptoms of hepatitis?

and

Treatments for hepatitis

* Hepatitis A - There is no treatment specifically for hepatitis A. Doctor

will advise the patient to abstain from alcohol and drugs during the recovery.

The vast majority of patients with Hepatitis A will recover spontaneously.

* Hepatitis B - A patient with Hepatitis B needs to rest. He will require a

diet that is high in protein and carbohydrate - this is to repair damaged liver

cells, as well as to protect the liver. If this is not enough, the doctor may

prescribe interferon. Interferon is an antiviral agent.

* Hepatitis C - A patient with Hepatitis C will be prescribed pegylated

interferon and ribavirin.

* Hepatitis D or E - So far, there is no effective treatment for either

Hepatitis D or E.

* Non-Viral Hepatitis - If the patient has non-viral hepatitis, the doctor

needs to remove the harmful substance. It will be flushed out of the stomach by

hyperventilation or induced vomiting. Patients with drug-induced hepatitis may

be prescribed corticosteroids.

How to prevent hepatitis

How to prevent Hepatitis A

* Wash your hands with soap after going to the toilet

* Only consume food that has just been cooked

* Only drink commercially bottled water, or boiled water if you unsure of

local sanitation

* Only eat fruits that you can peel if you are somewhere where sanitation is

unreliable

* Only eat raw vegetables if you are sure they have been cleaned/disinfected

thoroughly

* Get a vaccine for Hepatitis A if you travel to places where hepatitis may

be endemic

How to prevent Hepatitis B

* Tell the partner if you are a carrier or try to find out whether he/she is

a carrier

* Practice safe sex

* Only use clean syringes that have not been used by anyone else

* Do not share toothbrushes, razors, or manicure instruments

* Have a Hepatitis B series of shots if you are at risk

* Only allow well sterilized skin perforating equipment (tattoo,

acupuncture, etc.)

How to prevent Hepatitis C

* If you are infected do not let others share your toothbrush, razor,

manicure equipment

* If you are infected cover open wounds

* Do not share needles, toothbrushes, or manicure equipment

* If your skin is to be pierced, make sure equipment is well sterilized

(tattoo, etc.)

* Go easy on the alcohol

* Do not share drug equipment

How to prevent Hepatitis D

* Use the same guidelines as for Hepatitis B. Only a person who is infected

with Hepatitis B can become infected with Hepatitis D.

How to prevent Hepatitis E

* Do the same as you would to protect yourself from Hepatitis A infection.

How to prevent Alcoholic Hepatitis

* Go easy on the alcohol, or abstain from consuming alcohol

How to prevent Toxic/Drug Induced Hepatitis

* Make sure you know about the lethal contents of all chemicals

* Make sure the spray is not pointing at you

* Make sure you wear protective gear if you have to

See the full article at:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145869.php