.www.corecharity.org.uk/?docname=leaflets .. (List of fact sheets online .. Click here 1/2008)
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| A | voiding viral hepatitis | ||||||||||||||||
| What is hepatitis? | |||||||||||||||||
| Hepatitis is an inflammation of the
liver. This can be caused by any one of five different viruses, but it can also be caused
by alcohol abuse, or by certain drugs. If the inflammation of the liver is severe enough,
it results in jaundice (yellow skin and eye colour due to excess bile pigments in the
blood). The illness can be mild or severe, lasting from a few weeks to a lifetime in cases
of chronic infection. Viral hepatitis should be treated seriously as it is an infectious disease which can be easily transmitted and one which can, in some cases, lead to serious liver complications. However, the risk of becoming infected by viral hepatitis can be greatly reduced by understanding how it is transmitted and remembering a few basic points which are described below. How can viral hepatitis be avoided? In tropical countries, careful attention should be paid to hygiene to reduce the risk of hepatitis A and E. Anyone visiting these destinations should :
To reduce the risk of hepatitis B, D and probably C:
Screening tests by blood banks greatly reduce the risk of transfusions of hepatitis B and C positive blood. |
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| I | mmunisation | ||||||||||||||||
| New vaccines are now available which
provide long term protection for people at high risk of infection with hepatitis A.
Vaccination is advised for frequent travellers, armed forces personnel, people with
haemophilia, diplomatic staff, residents and staff in institutions for the mentally
handicapped - where violence such as biting may occur - children's day care centre staff,
male homosexuals, injecting drug users, people with certain inherited blood disorders and
sewage workers. Early evidence suggests that vaccination will replace gamma globulin
injections used as prevention in the past. Vaccination against hepatitis B is recommended for all visitors to areas where it is widespread, as well as for people at high risk of infection. This category includes all those groups identified as being at high risk of hepatitis A as well as health care personnel, family members of people who are already infected, new born babies whose mothers have had hepatitis B infection, people who are to receive organ transplants or who are on a kidney machine, those who receive frequent blood transfusion products, prostitutes and others who have had multiple sexual partners. |
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| T | he disease | ||||||||||||||||
| What are the symptoms? | |||||||||||||||||
Symptoms may last from a few days to a few weeks, but many patients take several months to recover their well being entirely. |
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| How is hepatitis diagnosed? | |||||||||||||||||
| Simple blood tests are carried out to confirm the presence of the disease and determine which hepatitis virus is responsible. Ultrasound examination and endoscopy may also be necessary to identify complications in the liver and the gullet. | |||||||||||||||||
| Who gets chronic hepatitis? | |||||||||||||||||
| Patients with hepatitis B, C or D are at risk of remaining infected long term. The risk of chronic hepatitis B is much greater if the disease is acquired in childhood, as is common in Africa and China. | |||||||||||||||||
| What are the implications of chronic hepatitis? | |||||||||||||||||
| Some patients with chronic hepatitis may remain very well, but it can cause severe and persistent liver inflammation which may eventually lead to cirrhosis and liver failure. Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver which breaks up its abnormal structure, impairing its ability to eliminate toxic substances efficiently from the blood. Cirrhosis can lead to further serious complications such as accumulation of fluid in the body or bleeding from veins in the gullet. In chronically scarred livers, it can even lead to cancer. | |||||||||||||||||
| T | reatment | ||||||||||||||||
| How is hepatitis treated? | |||||||||||||||||
| Patients with hepatitis normally recover without needing treatment or a stay in hospital. They are advised to rest for a few weeks until the jaundice has disappeared and the virus has cleared from the blood and liver. Alcohol must be avoided and some people find fatty foods nauseating. Chronic hepatitis is more difficult to treat, but a proportion of patients will respond well to antiviral drug treatment, particularly interferon. Patients whose condition requires hospital treatment will be nursed under special conditions because of the infectious nature of the disease. | |||||||||||||||||
| T | he need for research | ||||||||||||||||
| How much do we know about viral hepatiitis? | |||||||||||||||||
| Although much is now known about the
transmission and prevention of viral hepatitis, there is still more that needs to be
discovered. Doctors and Scientists are conducting research to;
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| Where is it common? | How is it transmitted? | Who is at most risk? | Does it persist? | |
| Hepatitis A | Developing countries | Poor hygiene, eating and drinking infected food and water | Travellers to developing countries | Does not persist |
| Hepatitis B | Extremely common in Far East and Africa, relatively rare in developed countries | Exchange of body fluids (blood and semen) | Male homosexuals, drug addicts and hospital staff | Can cause chronic infection |
| Hepatitis C | Relatively common in Africa, China and S. Mediterranean countries | By exchange of body fluids and transfusion of contaminated blood | People receiving blood transfusions where screening may be inadequate | Often causes chronic infection |
| Hepatitis D | Only occurs in association with hepatitis B | Exchange of body fluids | Drug addicts and haemophiliacs | Can cause chronic infection |
| Hepatitis E | In developing countries | Poor hygiene, eating and drinking infected food and water | Travellers to developing countries | Does not persist |
