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Viral hepatitis a and c: causes and treatment of infection. Video
Hepatitis A and hepatitis C are viral infectious diseases of the liver. They can develop in any person, because this disease can be transmitted even through water and food. Unlike hepatitis A, hepatitis C is a more serious illness, but it can only be contracted through contact with contaminated blood.
The content of the article:
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis C
Hepatitis A: infection, symptoms and treatment
Viral hepatitis A is the most common infection in humans and is especially common in countries with warm climates. You can get the disease through food (such as fruits and seafood) and drinking (drinking contaminated water). Therefore, to prevent the disease, it is necessary to carefully process food and preferably by a thermal method – the hepatitis virus dies at temperatures above 60 degrees.
The risk group for infection includes people who have sex with a carrier of the virus or who are in regions with a high prevalence of the disease
Hepatitis A is expressed in a number of specific ways. So, one of the common symptoms is feeling unwell and a significant darkening of urine, in color it becomes similar to strongly brewed black tea. In some cases, patients develop a fever against the background of nausea, vomiting, heaviness in the stomach or right hypochondrium, general weakness, yellowing of the skin and discoloration of feces.
The diagnosis is made on the basis of the data obtained by the doctor from the patient: where the person was during the last month, what he ate and what water he used. Also, the diagnosis can be made based on the results of palpation – when feeling the abdomen, an increase in the size of the liver can be detected. Blood tests are ordered to confirm.
As a rule, the body quickly copes with the infection on its own, however, in severe cases, treatment may be prescribed to detoxify the liver and eliminate symptoms. Also, glucose solutions, vitamins and drugs are used to protect liver cells from further damage.
Re-infection with hepatitis A is not possible, since after the disease the body develops immunity to it
Hepatitis C: symptoms and treatment
Unlike hepatitis A, viral hepatitis C is a dangerous disease that is much more difficult to treat. The risk group includes drug addicts who use one needle for several people. Also, infection is possible through the infusion of infected donor blood or unprotected sexual intercourse. It is not so often that the disease is transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy, as well as through tattooing, acupuncture and ear piercing with materials that have not been sterilized. As in the case of hepatitis A, the hepatitis C virus dies at temperatures above 60 degrees.
There is no vaccine that fully protects against hepatitis C
Symptoms do not appear until a few weeks after infection. Unlike hepatitis A, hepatitis C has nonspecific symptoms and is well disguised as influenza. Hepatitis C can cause coughing, fever, headaches, weakness, and in some cases, skin rashes. Against the background of a rise in temperature, appetite disappears, pains appear in the right side of the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, urine darkens and feces become discolored. Doctors also record an increase in the size of the liver and spleen, and an increase in the level of bilirubin can be seen on blood tests.
About 20% of patients are able to recover on their own. About 70% of all patients develop chronic hepatitis C
To diagnose the disease, blood is taken and analyzed for antibodies to the virus. An abdominal ultrasound is often done and a liver biopsy is taken. For the treatment of the disease, interferon is used, which prevents the spread of the disease. For liver healing, ribavirin is also taken, which allows regression of the disease and a cure. Food for patients with hepatitis C virus infection is also made in accordance with the instructions of the attending physician.
Also interesting to read: food poisoning.