HEPATITIS

 

Hepatitis

It is celebrated on July 28 every year to make awareness about it among the people. Hepatitis is nothing but in simple or easy words is an inflammation of the liver.The condition leads to cirrhosis or liver cancer.

  Some data taken from WHO is :- 

1 . Almost 90% of people living with this viral disease are unaware that they have it.  

2 . Almost 3 thousand people die from hepatitis B and C everyday. 

3 . Every 30 seconds someone loses their life from hepatitis B or C  Causes -  It causes viruses and also from some other infections or toxic substances . 

 Example- Alcohol, certain drugs, and also Autoimmune diseases can also cause this disease. 

Types of hepatitis ( hepatitis viruses) are :-

There are 5 main viruses :-

  HAV or HEPATITIS A:- 

1 .  The viruses are present in the faeces of infected persons and are therefore transmitted through consumption of contaminated food .  

2 . People with poor sanitation are at high risk of HAV.

  3 . In many cases it is not dangerous ,or infections are mild, in which most people make a full recovery . Certain sex practices can also spread HAV. 

4 . Safe and effective vaccines are available to prevent HAV.

  HBV OR HEPATITIS B:-

1 . It is very dangerous to us. 

2 . HBV infected persons can't donate blood to others.

 3 . HBV is transmitted through exposure to infected blood , semens, and other body fluids. 

4 . HBV can be transmitted from infected mothers to their infants at the time of birth or from family members to infants in early childhood. 

5 . Transmission also occurs through transfusion of HBV blood and blood products and syringes. 

6 . Vaccines are available to prevent HBV. 

HEPATITIS C Or (HCV) :- 

1 . HCV is mostly transmitted through contaminated blood or infected blood. 

2 . Sexual transmission is also a reason but it is very less common. 

3 . Some other transmissions are the same as HBV. 

4 . There is no vaccine for HCB. 

HEPATITIS D or  (HDV) -

  1. In this case infections occur only in those people who are infected with HBV.

 2 . Hepatitis B vaccine is effective against HDV also. 

  HEPATITIS E or  ( HEV) :- 

1 . HEV is most common in developing countries.

 2 . It is also transmitted through consumption of contaminated  food or water.

 3 .  HEV vaccines have developed but not accepted world wide yet.

Hepatitis infected person

AUTOIMMUNE HEPATITIS :- 

from its name, it is no doubt related to immunity.  We all know that liver is the largest organ in our body. It occurs when our body's immune system attacks or start killing our liver cells. This may leads to liver damage and inflammation and swelling also. And it can occurs at any age. 

NEONATAL HEPATITIS - 

1 . It occurs only in infants, usually between one to two months of baby. 

 2 . About 20% of infants are infected after their birth by their mother or shortly after birth.  

3 . These viruses include Rubella (measles) , Hepatitis A, B and C viruses and cytomegalo viruses. 

 4 . Remaining 80% of cases, no specific viruses can be identified as the cause.

 SYMPTOMS :-

The color of eyes changes to yellowish and the color of skin becomes yellow or In other words JAUNDICE. 

TREATMENTS :- 

There are no specific treatments but some precautions are: 

1 . Vitamin supplements are prescribed. 

 2 . Phenobarbitals are given to infants. 

3 . This drug is used to control seizures but also stimulates the liver to produce bole juice.

 4 . Formulas are given to babies. 

Some additional information:- Noble prize winner scientist Dr. Baruch Blumberg discovered HBV and its diagnosis and its vaccine also.