What is hepatitis and what to do to not be left without liver

What is hepatitis?

Hepatitis B - is inflammation of the liver, a condition in which its cells either do not work or are killed. The causes of hepatitis are different, the consequences too.

If you have had acute hepatitis and recovered, you will have six months to a year to comply with a strict diet and monitor mode. If the disease becomes chronic, then it leads to cirrhosis and liver cancer. A fast-moving forms that evolve rapidly and severely, mortally dangerous.

Why is there hepatitis?

Hepatitis may develop due to poisoning, including alcohol. Perhaps due to viruses, which precisely hit the liver. This basically five types of viruses: A, B, C, D, E. They are very different, since symptoms and finishing treatment.

As transmitted hepatitis?

It depends on the type of virus. A and E are transmitted from contaminated water and food.

Hepatitis C is spread through blood. Help him in this non-sterile injections, untreated tools (even in dentistry or in a nail salon), an infected donor blood. Children can become infected by a mother during childbirth. Rarely hepatitis C sexually transmittedUnlike hepatitis B, which passes through sexual contact from the partner to partner.

This virus is available yet, and the same way as hepatitis C, blood, needles, tools. Hepatitis B - resistant virus that can live a long time in the contaminated blood objects (as opposed to the same HIV who die quickly).

Hepatitis D clings to people who are already infected with hepatitis B, and complicate the disease. It is transmitted in the same way as hepatitis B: through blood and sexual contact.

I have my hands, do not drink and do not smoke, do I get sick?

When it comes to hepatitis A and E, the risk you will be, if you go to a country where everything is bad hygiene. Or, if you wash your hands often enough and forget that water is better to boil.

And in the case of hepatitis B, C, D are at risk for all who go to the dentist lead sexually active and does manicure, piercings or tattoos.

A vaccination is?

Yes, but not all viruses. Hepatitis A and E can be controlled by vaccination and possible - compliance with sanitation regulations.

Hepatitis B vaccination is safe there, it is part of our calendar of vaccination. At the same time it protects against hepatitis D.

Hepatitis C has no vaccinations.

How, then, to defend themselves against hepatitis B?

Vaccinations of those that are available.

Be sure to comply with all rules of hygiene when you prepare foods. Be doubly careful if you are traveling to Africa, Asia and developing countries.

Closely monitor to medical institutions and in any beauty salon or tattoo studio used sterile instruments. All disposable packaging must be opened when you like to get sterilized instruments from the packages and boxes. Unfortunately, to check whether properly performed sterilization, we can not.

Therefore it is necessary to donate blood at least once a year and find out all you have to order.

How do you know that I'm sick?

Hepatitis if it develops slowly, first manifested poor health, and yellow skin. Yellow tint appears in the whites of the eyes. Lost appetite, and with him the weight of human nauseated. Joints may ache, skin itching, especially at night. All this happens because the liver can not cope with their work.

With these symptoms should go to the doctor, who noticed other signs of hepatitis and conduct tests.

There are exceptions. Sometimes hepatitis occurs rapidly, with internal bleeding and development of coma (it is more about hepatitis B).

And sometimes for years did not announce itself, gradually destroying the liver such as hepatitis C. Since the liver itself does not hurt, then notice the inflammation does not work without regular analyzes.

What if I have hepatitis?

Scheme of treatment depends on the type of virus. The majority of hepatitis are no special medicines: it is necessary to help the body cope with the effects of the virus and infection. Therefore it is necessary to follow a strict diet, ensure that the body does not dehydrate, taking antiviral drugs of general validity. Treatment may be long, up to six months, and if the disease has moved into a chronic form (in hepatitis B and C), then constant.

Hepatitis C is treated with special preparations, but it is long, difficult and expensive. Many drugs are not available in Russia. You need a lot of patience and money to overcome the disease.