WHAT SHOULD BE KNOWN ABOUT HEPATITIS
The liver is the
largest organ in the human body, and its inflammation (from any cause) is
referred to as "Hepatitis". Hepatitis is a disease of major public
health importance, as it is a leading cause of death worldwide.
CAUSES
Inflammation of the liver may be caused by viruses, alcohol,
drugs, autoimmune and metabolic diseases. However, viruses are the commonest
causative agents of hepatitis, accounting for more than 50% of acute cases and
thus, will be the subject of this discussion
Viral causes of
hepatitis include: hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), HCV, HDV
and HEV which collectively account for 95% of viral hepatitis. Other agents
include: Epstein Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, yellow fever virus etc.
CLASSIFICATION
Acute hepatitis: the disease condition does not last for
more than 6 months. Caused by HAV, HEV
Chronic hepatitis: the disease condition lasts for more than
6 months. Caused by HBV, HCV and HDV
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW ABOUT HEPATITIS
1 out of every 12
people worldwide is living with hepatitis
Hepatitis is
commoner in males than females
Hepatitis A is the
commonest viral hepatitis worldwide
About 2 billion
people worldwide has been infected with Hepatitis B, making it the 9th most
common cause of death worldwide
About 170 million
people are infected with Hepatitis C worldwide
HOW HEPATITIS IS TRANSMITTED
Hepatitis A and E:
by consumption of food and water contaminated by feces of an infected person
Hepatitis B, C and
D: by transfusion with unscreened blood, injection with contaminated needles,
and from an infected mother during delivery.
Note: transmission of hepatitis through breast milk has not
been proven
FACTORS THAT INCREASE THE RISK OF HEPATITIS
Overcrowding and
poor environmental sanitation
Shairing of sharps
e.g. blade, needle, shaving stick etc.
Practice of
unprotected sexual intercourse
Exposure to
contaminated needles; as for health workers
Homosexuality,
intravenous drug abuse, tattooing etc.
CLINICAL FEATURES OF HEPATITIS
ACUTE HEPATITIS
Acute hepatitis should be suspected when anyone with
generalized body weakness, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and headache develops
"yellowness of the eye", "pain on the upper part of right
abdomen", dark-coloured urine", "pale-coloured stool" and
"body itching"
Note: acute
hepatitis may be asymptomatic in children
CHRONIC HEPATITIS
Chronic hepatitis
should be suspected when, after 6 months, the fellow with acute hepatitis
develops "loss of appetite", "abdominal swelling (with or
without pain)", "weight loss", "yellowness of the
eye", "enlarged breast and reduced testis size in male". etc.
Note however that most patient with chronic hepatitis may
have no symptoms, until last stages or forever
Anyone noticed to be
having the above symptoms should be taken to the nearest hospital while
maintaining minimal contact to prevent spread of infection
PREVENTION OF HEPATITIS
Health education
(like i just did)
Improved
environmental sanitation to prevent fecal contamination of food and drinks
Safety precautions
among health workers e.g. use of gloves, using needles ones, screening blood
before transfusion
Abstinence,
faithfulness to sexual partner, and avoiding unprotected sexual intercourse
Immunization of all
newborns against hepatitis (fathers should encourage and support mothers)
COMPLICATIONS
Liver failure
Liver cirrhosis
Liver cancer
Kidney failure
Thank you for your attention. Questions, comments,
contributions...
written by Abdullahi Oladimeji
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