What is hepatitis?

Hepatites are inflammatory liver diseases. Liver affections can arise in toxemia of pregnancy, extensive burns; the diseases caused by human parasites such as opisthorchiasis produced by the cat liver fluke known to scientists as Opisthorchis felineus, helminths, and lamblia. The liver diseases are frequently accompanied by the affection of the bile-excreting ducts and gallbladder.

Viral hepatitis is the most widespread liver disease. Every year from 1 to 2 million people die in the world only because of the acute viral hepatitis. The causes may be the viruses of hepatitis A, B, C, D, G, and other virus infections such as herpes, adenovirus, and virus Epstein - Barr.

The most significant symptom of the liver disease is the jaundice of the skin and mucosal membranes. The patients complain of unmotivated weakness, quickly appearing fatigue, reduced appetite, nausea, vomiting, the painful sensations or feeling of discomfort in the right area below the ribs or pit of the stomach, joint pains, dark urine and light colour stool. Patients and doctors also notice flue-like phenomena and the raise of temperature. There are no specific symptoms for chronic hepatites. Liver affection is often accompanied by appearance of the skin rash, skin itching, allergic reactions and, characteristic solar allergy. The disease progression results in the development of complications such as esophageal and stomachal varicose veins dilatation, which can result in the bleeding from the enlarged vessels. Doctors also notice leg edema as well as signs and symptoms of encephalopathy.

Unfortunately, the hepatites frequently take the asymptomatic course that complicates their early detection, diagnosis, and duly treatment. The viral hepatitis is considered to become chronic if disease is in progress more than 6 months and the immune system cannot cope with the affection.

Where does the disease come from?

The source of the infection is the sick person. In the viral hepatitis A the infection occurs as a result of the contacts with dirty, unwashed vegetables and fruit, dirty hands, infected utensils and water; considerably less often the infection is possible as aresult of blood transfusion from the infected donor and during sexual contact among the homosexuals. The spreading of the viral hepatites B, C, and G occurs during transfusions of blood and its components, in some medical interventions and insufficient processing of medical instruments, as well as in hemodialysis. The infection is also possible in cases of skin and mucosal membrane injuries while making tattoos, piercing, manicures and pedicures, when different people use the same razors, scissors and tooth-brushes. These hepatites may be also transmitted sexually and by means of intravenous introduction of drugs.

In the last years doctors more often diagnose the viral hepatitis G and virus ТТ (hepatitis TTV) first of all due to the improving of diagnostic methods. The combination of several viruses (B + C, C + G, etc.) is frequently detected. Such cases often lead to faster progressing of disease. In the viral hepatitis B and G there exists so-called vertical transmission of the disease from the infected mother through the placenta to the fetus.

The appearance of the specific viricides allows not only impeding disease development, but also completely clearing the significant number of patients from the virus thus preventing serious delayed complications. The absence of treatment during many years results in the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatic carcinoma. Nowadays, the hepatites A and B can be prevented with vaccination, which is the most effective and safe method of protection.

Non-viral sources of hepatitis

The abuse with alcoholic drinks leads to the development of alcoholic liver disease. In alcoholic hepatitis there is an accumulation of toxic substances, the respiration of liver cells is disturbed; there appear fat inclusions in the hepatic cells resulting in liver cirrhosis. The infection with viruses of hepatites in persons abusing alcohol also leads to faster significant changes. The first and obligatory condition of the treatment is the complete discontinuance of the of alcohol intake; otherwise progressing of disease is almost inevitable.

The disorders of lipid and a carbohydrate metabolism in obese people, non-insulin dependent diabetes, unbalanced carbohydrates and fat diets, quick weight loss, the long use of some medications also lead to the accumulation of fatty drops, fat inclusions in the liver cells and the development of steatohepatitis.