How to identify viral hepatitis, the symptoms of which are manifested in adults and children

Viral hepatitis is the most common and quite dangerous infectious liver disease. Most often this disease is caused by viruses. Hepatitis viruses differ in molecular and biochemical characteristics. Chronic liver diseases( most often hepatitis B and C) are among the top ten causes of death in the world.

Species of hepatitis

The most common is hepatitis A. The incubation period of viral hepatitis A lasts 7-50 days. Most often in the beginning of the disease, the temperature rises, the condition resembles the flu. In most cases, the disease ends with a quick recovery, without requiring active treatment. In severe cases, prescribed droppers, which eliminate the toxic effect of the virus on the liver.

The hepatitis B virus can be transmitted sexually, through non-sterile syringes from drug users, from the mother to the fetus. Usually the onset of the disease begins with fever, joint pain, weakness, nausea, vomiting. There may be rashes. There is an increase in the spleen and liver. In some cases, there may be a darkening of the urine, discoloration of the stool. In the pathogenesis of hepatitis B, autoimmune and cellular responses play a special role, which is a confirmation of the relationship between the onset of clinical and specific AT manifestations.

The most severe form of viral hepatitis is hepatitis C. It is also called posttransfusion hepatitis, that is, they got sick after the procedure of blood transfusion. Very often there is infection through syringes of drug addicts, as well as through the sexual way and from mother to fetus. The most serious danger is a chronic form of the disease, which often turns into cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Treatment of chronic viral hepatitis C is a very complex and long process. Complications develop in about 70-80% of patients. A combination of hepatitis C with other forms of viral hepatitis makes the disease heavier, threatening a fatal outcome.

Viral hepatitis D appears as a complication of the course of hepatitis B.

Viral hepatitis E resembles hepatitis A, but it begins more slowly and is especially dangerous for pregnant women.

As for the last of the hepatitis family, hepatitis G, it is similar to C, but is considered less dangerous.

There is also a type of disease, such as parenteral viral hepatitis - an inflammatory disease of the liver caused by viruses that penetrated the human body through damage to the integrity of skin and mucous membranes. Infection occurs through contaminated blood or other biological fluid.

According to the clinical course, viral hepatitis is divided into:

1. Acute viral hepatitis;
2. Primary chronic hepatitis;
3. Secondary chronic hepatitis.

How is the disease transmitted?

Hepatitis viruses enter the human body in two main ways. A person with hepatitis can isolate the virus along with feces, which with food or water enters the intestines of other people( fecal-oral method).It is typical for hepatitis A and E, which occur most often due to non-compliance with personal hygiene or imperfect water supply systems. This explains the high prevalence of these viruses in underdeveloped countries.

The second way of infection is contact with infected blood. This is typical for hepatitis B, C, D, G viruses, among which hepatitis B and C viruses are the most dangerous because of severe consequences.

The most common infection occurs through:

• transfusion of donor contaminated blood - around 2% of donors in the worldare carriers of the hepatitis virus, so for the time being, donor blood is checked for hepatitis virus before transfusion to the recipient;
• the use of one needle by different people is the most common method of infection, which increases the risk of infection with hepatitis B, C, D, G;
• is a sexual contact that transmits viruses B, C, D, G;
• from mother to child in case of active form of the virus or transferred hepatitis in the last months of pregnancy;
• when applying tattoos, piercing the ears with unsterile needles and acupuncture.

In 40% of cases the source of infection remains undefined.

Symptoms of viral hepatitis

From the moment of infection to the manifestation of the very first signs of the disease there is a different time: for hepatitis A - from 2 to 4 weeks, with hepatitis B 2-4 and even 6 months. At the end of this period, the virus multiplies and adapts in the body, after which the disease begins to gradually manifest itself.

First, with hepatitis A, the disease resembles the flu and begins with fever, headaches, general malaise, body aches. With hepatitis C and B, the onset is more gradual, without a sudden increase in temperature. The temperature is insignificant, there is pain in the joints, sometimes there are rashes.

Weakness and decreased appetite is characterized by the onset of hepatitis C. Within a few days appetite disappears, aching pains appear in the right hypochondrium, vomiting and nausea, urine darkens and discoloration fades. Doctors at the same time fix the enlargement of the liver, and sometimes the spleen. In the blood, the following changes are detected: an increase in bilirubin, specific markers of viral hepatitis, an increase in hepatic tests by 8-10 times.

Often after the appearance of jaundice, the condition of the patients improves slightly. This does not occur with hepatitis C in chronic alcoholics and drug addicts, regardless of the type of virus that caused the disease, due to intoxication of the whole organism. Gradually, within a few weeks, the patients develop the reverse development of all the symptoms - this is how the acute form of viral hepatitis occurs.

The clinical course can be expressed in varying degrees of severity: mild, moderate and severe. There is one more - fulminant, which is the most severe form of hepatitis. There is a development of massive necrosis of the liver, which ends, mainly, the death of the patient.

The most dangerous is the chronic course of hepatitis. Only hepatitis B, C, D is characterized by chronicity. The most characteristic signs of chronic hepatitis include malaise and increased late evening fatigue, the inability to perform the previous physical exertion. At the last stages of chronic viral hepatitis, jaundice, itching, darkening of the urine, bleeding, enlargement of the liver and spleen, vascular sprouts, weight loss are detected.

Viral hepatitis in children

Viral hepatitis occurs not only in adults but also in children. For viral hepatitis A is characteristic, the temperature rises to 38-39 degrees, dizziness, weakness, headache, there is no appetite and the child constantly vomits. After a couple of days, the temperature drops, and overall health improves. But, on the fourth or fifth day, the most characteristic signs for viral hepatitis appear: urine acquires a dark color, strongly foams, and the feces discolor. In addition, there is an increase in the liver and there is pain in the abdomen. And then sclera of the eyes, mucous membranes and skin integrate. After the appearance of jaundice, the condition improves. As a rule, hepatitis proceeds, favorably.

Hepatitis B develops differently. At first the child experiences some malaise, becomes sluggish. The temperature rise is insignificant. Typical signs of hepatitis appear somewhere in a week, with jaundice gradually increasing, the child's condition worsens. But, not always the child may have jaundice. But, often incomplete manifestations of viral hepatitis often provoke the development of chronic inflammation of the liver.

The outcome of the disease largely depends on timely treatment. At any malaise it is better to put the child in bed and necessarily to call the doctor. With the help of modern clinical research, he can correctly diagnose at the beginning of the disease.

Hepatitis is especially severe in newborns and children of the first year of life. Moreover, they often show little jaundice. But, appearance after urination on the diaper of dark spots with a sharp odor should be sure to alert. The child's fever rises, he regurgitates, refuses to breast, very restlessly behaves.

To completely restore the liver function, it takes time and some conditions. First of all - a strict diet, whose goal is to soothe the liver. The food should be warm. Frequency of reception 4-5 times a day, gradually and at the same time. Also it is necessary to reduce the motor activity of the child.

A child who has had viral hepatitis needs medical supervision. This will provide an opportunity to timely reveal the complication that has begun( chronic hepatitis, inflammation of the gallbladder and bile ducts).

It should be known that the hepatitis B virus in the body can penetrate through any wound, an abrasion directly from the patient. Even with contaminated toys or household items, very rarely - with food.

As for hepatitis A, infection mainly occurs through the mouth. The causative agent can be on poorly washed hands, fruits, toys, in unboiled water. It is very important, from a young age, to teach the child to wash hands before meals and after the toilet.