Sunday, October 23, 2016

WHAT SHOULD BE KNOWN ABOUT HEPATITIS

@Emertuskay Sunday, October 23, 2016 No comments:

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...