Among the many diseases that can affect the liver the most
common is hepatitis (a viral infection of the liver). Drugs,
viruses, bacteria, mushrooms, and parasites like amoebas or
giardiasis can cause hepatitis. The most common hepatitis
viruses affecting the liver are named for letters of the
alphabet: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D,
and hepatitis E.
Hepatitis A - takes 14 to 21 days after infection to
cause symptoms. It is transmitted through food. Once
infected with HAV, some symptoms such as dark yellow urine
and fatigue will begin to appear within 25 days.
Hepatitis B - is on the increase worldwide. It is
transmitted through direct contact with blood, serum,
saliva, faeces, urine, and sexual contact.
Hepatitis C - is a truly serious disease with no
known effective treatment. It is transmitted through blood
and body fluids in transfusions, injections, the sharing of
IV needles with drug users, and possibly by sexual contact
with exposed partners.
Hepatitis D - only occurs in the presence of
Hepatitis B virus
Hepatitis E - is another common type of hepatitis in
developing countries. It occurs in epidemics. The infection
route for it is faucal-oral, the same as the route for
Hepatitis A virus; therefore, again, you must be very
careful in what you eat and drink.
Symptoms of Hepatitis
Low-grade
fever Nausea Vomiting Rigors and
chills Dark color
urine White color
stool Very much
weakness Dizziness Loss of weight Pain in liver
area
Treatment of Hepatitis
In modern medicine, the only protection against hepatitis is
the HAV and the HBV vaccines. There is nothing available for
HCV protection so far.
Therefore, limiting our exposure to hepatitis is the best
prevention
Doing safe sexual practices
Taking precautions when exposed to blood and blood products
Avoiding the sharing of IV needles
Taking care to eat in restaurants that enforce hand-washing
policies among their employees
Avoiding scavenger seafood
Cirrhosis:
Cirrhosis of the liver is a chronic, diffuse degenerative
liver disease in which the parenchyma (the functional organ
tissue) degenerates, the lobules are infiltrated with fat and
structurally altered, dense perilobular connective tissue
forms, and areas of regeneration often develop.
Cirrhosis is the seventh leading cause of death by disease in
the United States. In most cases, though, there is a loss of
liver cell function, and an increased resistance to blood
flows through the damaged liver tissue (a condition known as
portal hypertension) leading to esophageal varices. Severe
cirrhosis leads to ammonia toxicity, hepatic coma,
gastrointestinal haemorrhage, and kidney failure. As liver
cells are destroyed, they are systematically replaced by scar
tissue.
Causes:
Alcohol abuse
Treatment of liver cirrhosis
Altered diet (eat small but frequent meals of nutritious
foods).
Avoiding or limiting the use of alcoholic beverages.
Avoid chemicals or chemicals based drugs
Sodium and fluids should be restricted
Patients should avoid exposure to infections
Our liver protective package
Hepatitis A - takes 14 to 21 days after infection to
cause symptoms. It is transmitted through food. Once
infected with HAV, some symptoms such as dark yellow urine
and fatigue will begin to appear within 25 days.
