Contents
What is toxic hepatitis?
Toxic hepatitis – a disease of the liver, the cause of which is the ingestion of any harmful substances, chemical and other origin. The toxic effect of these substances on liver cells leads to their inflammation and subsequent necrosis.
Acute toxic hepatitis occurs as a result of a one-time, sufficiently large dose of poison, or a small, but with a high concentration of a toxic substance, entering the body. Symptoms of acute hepatitis appear within 2-5 days.
Chronic toxic hepatitis develops with repeated systematic ingestion of small doses of toxic substances into the body. Its symptoms appear gradually, over several months or even years, the disease is characterized by slow development. If the cause is not eliminated in time, complications are possible in the form of cirrhosis of the liver and liver failure.
At risk for this disease are:
Women, children and the elderly;
Citizens who are inclined to take various medications on their own, without medical advice;
People working by occupation with chemicals;
Alcohol abusers.
In Russia, there are no accurate statistics on the incidence of toxic hepatitis.
Causes of toxic hepatitis
It is customary to distinguish between accidental, professional (work-related) and intentional contact with harmful substances. Substances that actively affect the liver are called liver poisons.
They can enter the body in different ways:
Through the gastrointestinal tract: mouth > stomach > blood > liver;
Through the respiratory organs: nose > lungs > blood > liver;
Tactile way: skin > blood > liver.
Some liver poisons, the so-called hepatotropic, have a direct effect on liver cells, adversely affecting their functioning. Other types of poisons act indirectly, they disrupt the blood flow in small vessels that supply oxygen to the liver, which leads to oxygen starvation of its cells and their subsequent death.
Medications
With the simultaneous intake of a large dose of one of the following drugs, significantly exceeding the recommended by the doctor, toxic liver damage is observed and acute toxic hepatitis develops.
Liver poisons are classified as follows:
Sulfonamides (Biseptol);
Antiviral drugs (Interferon, etc.);
Medicines against tuberculosis (Ftivazid);
Antipyretics (Paracetamol, Aspirin;
Anticonvulsants (Phenobarbital, etc.).
industrial poisons
Usually they enter the body through the lungs or skin, while working in hazardous industries, chemical, paint and varnish, etc. Most often this happens systematically, in small doses and leads to the development of chronic toxic hepatitis.
Industrial chemical poisons include:
Arsenic – found in metallurgy;
Phosphorus – used for metal processing, is part of phosphate fertilizers;
Pesticides and insecticides – produced for agricultural needs;
carbon tetrachloride – used as a solvent for resins, fats, rubber;
Aldehydes – used in the production of acetic acid;
Phenols – are part of antiseptics and are used for disinfection purposes.
Alcohol
Excessive and systematic use of alcohol, especially low-quality, sooner or later causes toxic damage to the liver. During the processing of alcohol that has entered the body, it interacts with liver enzymes, which leads to the formation of acetaldehyde, a toxic substance. Acetaldehyde provokes various metabolic disorders in liver cells, as a result of which they gradually die off and are replaced by adipose tissue.
Poisons of plant origin
Some types of fungi and herbs-weeds have a hepatotropic effect, directly affecting the liver and disrupting its normal functioning.
Types of toxic hepatitis
Depending on the type of liver poison, the type of toxic hepatitis is also determined:
Alcoholic;
Medical;
Professional.
Alimentary-toxic hepatitis is also possible, infection of which occurs through oral-genital contact (anilingus). In this case, there is oral contact of a healthy person with fragments of feces infected with hepatitis. However, toxic hepatitis is not considered a contagious disease.
Symptoms of toxic hepatitis
With mild poisoning, the disease can be almost asymptomatic. In more severe situations, the following symptoms occur:
Pain on the right under the ribs, which occurs suddenly in acute hepatitis and is the result of an acute inflammation of the liver;
Signs of general intoxication: fever up to 380C, weakness, feeling of nausea, lack of appetite, aching joints;
Progressive jaundice, the signs of which appear simultaneously with signs of intoxication: the skin and mucous membranes become yellow-orange, the urine is dark in color, the feces are discolored and greasy. The cause of jaundice is a violation of the outflow of bile through the biliary tract;
Hemorrhagic phenomena: small skin hemorrhages in the form of dots, nosebleeds, since toxic substances have a destructive effect on the walls of blood vessels and capillaries;
Mental changes: increased excitability or, conversely, lethargy and sluggishness, disturbance of spatial orientation, etc., since poisons also have a toxic effect on nerve cells.
Signs of chronic toxic hepatitis include:
Periodic pain in the right hypochondrium, which has a moderate intensity and intensifies after eating;
Heaviness on the right under the ribs, which is caused by an increase in the liver and stretching of its capsule;
Prolonged increase in body temperature within 37-37,50WITH;
Increased fatigue, decreased performance;
Decreased appetite, bitterness in the mouth, bouts of nausea, bloating, diarrhea;
Itchy skin;
Enlargement of the spleen.
These symptoms may subside periodically and then worsen again. If left untreated, severe toxic hepatitis can lead to the following complications:
Liver failure, which develops as a result of the death of liver cells and their replacement with fat cells;
Hepatic coma, which leads to progressive violations of the liver; the consequence may be disturbances in the activity of the central nervous system (convulsions, fainting, disorder of reflexes) and even death;
Cirrhosis of the liver – during this disease, liver cells die and are replaced by connective tissue.
Diagnosis of toxic hepatitis
In the diagnosis of this disease, laboratory and instrumental methods are used. A biochemical blood test is performed, which determines the level of bilirubin and enzymes such as AST and ALT, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase.
Treatment of toxic hepatitis
First of all, it is necessary to completely stop any contact with liver poisons.
Treatment Scheme:
Bed rest;
Gastric lavage; with a single ingestion of a large dose of a toxic substance, you can first artificially induce vomiting;
Removal of toxins from the body by taking activated charcoal preparations, droppers with electrolyte solutions, plasmapheresis; to reduce the effect of poison on the walls of the stomach, you can drink milk or a decoction of flax seeds;
Taking vitamins C and group B;
Taking hepatoprotectors;
Taking choleretic drugs;
Compliance with a special protein-free diet.
With signs of acute toxic hepatitis, urgent hospitalization is necessary.
Hepatoprotectors
These are drugs that restore damaged liver cells, their functions and resistance to harmful effects.
5 and below 2 Preparation Liv.52
Herbal remedy, which includes chicory, yarrow, nightshade, tamarix, etc.
Pros:
Neutralizes toxic substances by increasing the activity of the corresponding enzymes;
Reduces the negative impact of alcohol on the liver and promotes its removal from the body;
Stimulates the production of substances that block the action of free radicals that damage healthy cells;
It has a choleretic and anti-inflammatory effect. Together with the flow of bile, toxins, cholesterol and excess fats are actively removed from the body.
Essentiale forte
The composition of this drug contains special fats (essential phospholipids), which are obtained from soybeans. Essentiale forte normalizes metabolic processes in the liver, promotes the restoration of its cells and prevents tissue scarring.
Pros:
Strengthens and heals the liver by incorporating essential phospholipids into its damaged cells;
Lowers the level of cholesterol and fats in the blood by reducing its production by the liver and increased separation along with bile;
Suppresses the process of scarring of liver tissues;
Slows down the onset of cirrhosis;
It is highly effective in the treatment of alcoholic hepatitis, as well as poisoning with pesticides, fungi and antiepileptic drugs.
The drug is available with and without vitamin supplements. The option with the content of vitamins has a number of restrictions in use: the daily dose and duration of administration are reduced in order to avoid hypervitaminosis, patients with individual intolerance to certain vitamins should not take the drug.
Heptral
The main active ingredient is ademetionine, which stimulates the growth of liver cells, is involved in the synthesis of serotonin and the neutralization of toxins. Ademetionine is produced by the liver, but with its diseases, the concentration of this substance in the body decreases. Heptral compensates for the deficiency of ademetionine and stimulates its natural synthesis.
Pros:
Promotes the formation of phospholipids;
Has a choleretic effect;
Enhances the neutralizing ability of the liver, activating the synthesis of specific amino acids;
It has antidepressant properties, as it actively participates in the production of serotonin and dopamine (substances that increase mood) and increases the sensitivity of certain brain structures to these substances.
In the course of clinical studies, the effectiveness of this drug in the treatment of alcoholic and drug-induced hepatitis has been proven.
Prevention of toxic hepatitis
Prevention of the disease consists in the complete elimination of contact with toxic hepatotropic substances. It is recommended to systematically undergo treatment in specialized sanatoriums, as well as attend annual preventive examinations. When working in a hazardous industry, try to retire as early as possible, if possible.
Diet for toxic hepatitis
It is necessary to adhere to fractional nutrition, eat in small portions and often, as this improves the outflow of bile. Fatty and fried foods, spicy and salty food, smoked meats and canned food should be excluded from the menu.
The bulk of the diet should be foods rich in fiber and pectin: fresh vegetables and fruits, legumes. Meat can be lean, easily digestible (chicken, rabbit).
Persons working in hazardous industries need to consume dairy products daily. The daily diet should include approximately 80 gr. vegetable fats and butter. Alcohol and smoking are strictly prohibited.