Hepatitis C - causes, symptoms of the disease, diagnosis and treatment methods

Hepatitis is an inflammatory disease of the liver. According to the nature of the course, acute and chronic hepatitis are distinguished. Acute cases occur with severe symptoms and have two possible outcomes: complete cure or transition to a chronic form.

Different types of hepatitis differ from each other in different ways of infection, rate of progression, severity of clinical manifestations, treatment methods and prognosis for the patient. The difference between hepatitis and each other lies in the symptoms: depending on the type of disease, different symptoms appear.

Hepatitis is an acute or chronic inflammatory disease of the liver that occurs due to infection with specific viruses or the influence of toxic substances on the parenchyma of the organ (for example, alcohol, drugs, drugs, poisons).

Viral hepatitis is a group of common and dangerous infectious diseases for humans, which differ quite significantly from each other, are caused by different viruses, but still have a common feature - it is a disease that primarily affects the human liver and causes its inflammation.

The main signs of hepatitis are abdominal pain, a yellow coating on the tongue, loss of appetite with frequent nausea and vomiting, headache, general weakness and an increase in body temperature up to 38.8°C, and in severe cases, yellowing of the skin and eyes.

Types of hepatitis

Currently, there are several types of viral hepatitis:

hepatitis A. This is the most common type of virus, which has the most favorable picture of the course of the disease. Its symptoms and signs appear a week to two months after infection of the body. This form of hepatitis in rare cases becomes chronic, sometimes ending in complete self-healing of the body;
hepatitis B. This is a dangerous form of hepatitis that is accompanied by severe symptoms. It requires mandatory treatment in a hospital setting using a full range of medications, adherence to a strict diet, and the cessation of bad habits. In 80% of cases, hepatitis B ends in a person being completely cured of the virus. It is possible to protect yourself from the disease through vaccination;
hepatitis C. This is the most severe form of the disease, which is often accompanied by viral hepatitis of other groups. There is currently no effective vaccine against hepatitis C. The disease is difficult to treat and in every 7th infected person, it leads to chronic hepatitis with the subsequent occurrence of liver cirrhosis and cancer;
hepatitis D. This is another form of viral hepatitis, which is similar in the course of the disease to group B hepatitis. The difference in viruses is the presence of a delta agent;
hepatitis E. In terms of the totality of symptoms, this infection is similar to hepatitis form A. The disease can also be completely cured with timely consultation with specialists. If it develops into a chronic stage, it affects not only the liver, but also the kidneys. This form is dangerous for women in the last months of pregnancy.

Also, viral hepatitis differs in the form of the disease:

acute hepatitis;
chronic hepatitis.

Acute hepatitis most often manifests itself with obvious symptoms and signs of the disease; chronic disease is considered when the virus does not respond to treatment within 6 months.

Photos of patients with hepatitis C

This is a photo of hepatitis C, namely the palms of sick people who are carriers of this virus.

The presented pictures of hepatitis clearly show how different the skin color of a sick person and a healthy one is.

Causes

The main causes of hepatitis:

viral infection;
alcohol addiction;
drug intoxication.

In more rare cases, the hepatitis virus is caused by other infections, for example, cytomegalovirus, herpes, etc.

Hepatitis groups A and E most often enter the body through the gastrointestinal tract. This is facilitated by:

fruits and vegetables that have not been properly processed;
unwashed hands;
contaminated water or food.

Viruses of other groups enter the human body primarily through the blood. The disease is transmitted:

during childbirth from mother to child;
during sexual intercourse;
during transfusion of infected blood and its products;
when using non-sterile syringes and medical instruments;
when using unsterile needles in tattoo parlors and untreated manicure instruments.

There are also autoimmune causes of hepatitis of different groups, but what provokes such a reaction in the body is unknown to scientists today. In the case of an autoimmune reaction, the body produces antibodies to the cells and tissues of the liver. This provokes the development of the disease and aggravates its further course.

Basic information

The liver performs important functions in our body:

Processing nutrients to obtain energy from them;
protein synthesis;
production of bile necessary for processing fats;
cleansing the blood of toxic substances (alcohol, nicotine, narcotic components, harmful food ingredients, ammonia and others).

Inflammation of the liver is a serious condition for the body. As a result, some of the organ cells die or degenerate into another type - connective tissue. In this case, the organ cannot perform its functions efficiently, the blood is not sufficiently cleansed, and intoxication of the body occurs.

The disease is “old” – it affects people for many centuries.

Historical reference

Hepatitis outbreaks have occurred since time immemorial. Back in the 5th century BC, Hippocrates described a disease - jaundice. The first recorded data on epidemics dates back to the 18th century.

And only towards the end of the 19th century, the famous general practitioner Botkin managed to prove that jaundice is a particularly contagious infectious disease. He also pointed out the connection between the disease and cirrhosis of the liver. That is why hepatitis type A is called Botkin's disease.

Already in 1947, hepatitis of viral origin was divided into two types: infectious (type A) and serum (type B). And in the seventies, hepatitis type C was discovered. With further study of the problem, several more varieties of the disease were identified.

Today, scientists continue to study the disease. New types of diseases are being discovered and methods of treating them are being developed.

Prevalence

The most common viral hepatitis types are A, B and C.

The main source is a sick person (excretions, airborne droplets, household items). Moreover, it becomes contagious even before the disease manifests itself. In addition, there are people who are carriers of the virus. Infectivity in this case lasts from two months to five years.

The source of the virus can be families in which at least one person has had the virus. Up to 20% of those who have recovered become carriers.

There are varieties of jaundice that are transmitted only through blood. In this case, poorly processed instruments at the dentist or hairdresser pose a danger. Any surgical intervention or blood transfusion is also accompanied by risk.

The peak incidence occurs in the autumn-winter period. In general, the disease is widespread due to the high susceptibility of people to it. Children of preschool and school age are most often affected.

Risk factors

Each type of disease has its own routes of infection.

With hepatitis A, the source of infection is the patient's feces. The virus is transmitted through food, water, and dirty hands. Flies also carry the virus. Another route of infection is oral-anal sexual contact with a sick person or a carrier of the virus;

Those most susceptible to hepatitis A infection are:

People traveling to underdeveloped countries;
workers of children's institutions (kindergartens, boarding schools, children's departments of hospitals);
men who have sex with men;
drug addicts;
people in whose family there is a person with hepatitis A or a carrier of the virus.

Hepatitis type B is transmitted through the patient's secretions (blood, vaginal discharge, seminal fluid). At risk are medical employees who come into contact with blood; people who are promiscuous; persons in whose family there is a sick person. Dangerous situations:

unprotected sexual contact with a carrier of the virus (the presence of a condom reduces the risk, but does not always help to avoid the disease);
consumption of drugs through needles and other sharp objects;
using other people's hygiene products (toothbrushes, nail scissors, razors);
any contact with the blood of an infected person;
poorly processed medical instruments;
blood transfusions;
travel to countries in Africa, South America, Eastern Europe and others with a high incidence of hepatitis B;
from a sick mother to her child during childbirth.

Hepatitis C is transmitted only through infected blood. Therefore, there is a high risk of infection among healthcare workers who come into contact with blood; in drug addicts in case of repeated use of needles; through tools; in children of infected mothers.

Viral hepatitis: symptoms and signs of the disease

Symptoms and signs of acute hepatitis

The most obvious manifestations of hepatitis are jaundice of the skin, eyeballs and mucous membrane of the upper palate. In rare cases, the skin, as well as the sclera, may not change its color, but jaundice always affects the soft palate.

In addition, the patient may observe:

increased body temperature observed over several weeks;
headache;
general fatigue and fatigue;
decreased appetite;
nausea, vomiting and diarrhea;
the appearance of an unpleasant bitter taste in the mouth;
pain in the right hypochondrium;
spider veins on the skin;
frequent nosebleeds, easy formation of hematomas;
darkening of urine and discoloration of stool.

Hepatitis: signs of chronic form

During the transition of hepatitis to a chronic form, the symptoms remain the same, but their severity decreases. In addition there are:

nausea;
loss of appetite;
periodic vomiting and diarrhea;
general fatigue and decreased performance;
gradual weight loss.

In the absence of proper treatment for hepatitis of different groups, these symptoms are accompanied by signs of cancer and cirrhosis of the liver.

How does hepatitis become infected?

You can get sick from a viral infectious disease, due to a functional malfunction of an organ, or as a result of the use of medications that negatively affect the functioning of the liver (such diseases account for 90% of all viral hepatitis).

It is not uncommon for the cause of the chronic form to be the incorrect application of treatment to the acute form. It happened that the disease did not reveal itself immediately; this is possible with anicteric or asymptomatic patients.

Hepatitis: diagnostic methods

As a rule, hepatitis is diagnosed when a patient visits a doctor with complaints or during preventive examinations.

As part of a routine appointment with a therapist or gastroenterologist, a specialist will palpate the liver area. With hepatitis, it always increases in size.

In addition to questioning, history taking and palpation, materials are taken for laboratory tests.

The standard framework for diagnosing hepatitis involves:

clinical analysis of blood, urine and feces;
biochemical blood test
PCR diagnostics of viral hepatitis
Fibrotest and Fibromax (determining the degree of liver fibrosis).

The research determines whether the virus belongs to one of the hepatitis groups and its quantity (viral load).

An ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs is also mandatory.

In some cases it may be necessary:

examination of the hepatic ducts and biliary tract (cholegraphy);
needle biopsy of the liver.

Photo of eyes with hepatitis C

“Wen” actively appears on the eyelids, which are signs of cholesterol accumulation. The photo shows a diseased eye surrounded by fatty plaques.

This is what eyes look like with hepatitis C. The photo may not reflect the true color of the whites; it also varies from a light yellowish tint to rich yellow.

In this case, yellowness is barely noticeable, but it also indicates the presence of a virus in the body.

Hepatitis: treatment courses

Treatment of acute forms

Treatment of acute hepatitis should be carried out immediately. The earlier it is started, the greater the likelihood of complete recovery.

Treatment of any form of hepatitis in the acute period is always carried out in a hospital setting. The main functions of drug treatment:

detoxification of the body;
fight against the virus that provoked the development of the disease;
relief or complete suppression of inflammatory processes in the liver.

The medications are prescribed both intravenously and orally. Also, patients with hepatitis are prescribed vitamin complexes, which necessarily include: calcium, potassium, manganese. At the discretion of the doctor, oxygen therapy may be included in the treatment courses for hepatitis of different groups.

During treatment, it is mandatory to follow diet No. 5A (to reduce the load on the liver).

For patients with hepatitis, the use of alcohol and medications that have a toxic effect on the liver is strictly contraindicated.

Treatment of viral forms of hepatitis involves hospitalization of the patient in the infectious diseases department; in case of a toxic form of hepatitis, treatment is carried out in the toxicology department.

Treatment of chronic hepatitis

Chronic hepatitis involves constant monitoring of the body's condition throughout life. To do this, it is necessary to regularly perform a number of laboratory and instrumental diagnostic procedures.

Treatment of hepatitis of different groups is carried out in courses with mandatory breaks. When medications are not taken, the patient is prescribed mandatory adherence to diet No. 5. During periods of exacerbation of hepatitis, diet No. 5A is prescribed.

Chronic hepatitis, depending on the causes of the disease, involves taking the following medications:

hepatoprotectors that have a beneficial effect on liver cells - hepatocytes;
vitamin complexes;
antiviral drugs;
immunosuppressants and corticosteroids, in the case of autoimmune hepatitis.

It is mandatory to carry out a detoxification procedure for the body.

The patient should give up alcohol and tobacco smoking, which only worsen the condition of the liver tissue. Physical activity during the period of normalization of the condition is allowed, but moderate, so as not to cause overwork of the body.

If all recommendations are followed, the patient can live a long, fulfilling life.

In the practice of treating hepatitis of various forms, cases when the disease develops rapidly (from the moment of infection and the onset of symptoms to global liver damage) are quite rare.

Forecast

Hepatitis A is the mildest type of the disease. Cures within 2–4 weeks. Hepatitis B is more difficult to treat. Up to 80% of cases have a favorable prognosis. The disease is not completely cured. With proper therapy, the liver can function normally. But the patient needs to take maintenance medications.

The most dangerous form is type C. It is a chronic incurable disease. May progress to cirrhosis or cancer.

Hepatitis of any type is a serious disease. Requires timely treatment under medical supervision. To prevent infection, you need to follow the rules of hygiene, avoid questionable sexual contacts, and use disposable medical instruments. It is better to prevent a disease than to treat it. Since inflammatory processes in the liver leave irreversible consequences. You cannot self-medicate.

Hepatitis: disease prevention

Compliance with preventive measures can partially protect the body from hepatitis, as well as prevent periods of its exacerbation in those who are already sick. Disease prevention includes:

compliance with hygiene rules, washing hands with soap before each meal;
proper processing of food products;
giving up alcohol and smoking.

Preventive measures also include vaccination. Today, during the first years of life, children are required to be vaccinated against hepatitis B. This helps protect the body from liver damage by this virus.

Preventive measures

In medical institutions, the plan for combating hepatitis includes vaccination of children in infancy and people at risk. They are given to patients with a chronic form of the disease and to medical staff.

There are household ways to protect against hepatitis. You cannot use foreign objects that violate the integrity of the skin and mucous membranes.

Other precautions should be taken:

avoid contact with patients infected with jaundice;
use protective equipment during sexual contacts with casual sexual partners;
Follow standard sanitary practices at all times.

What to do if the virus has not left the body?

For those people for whom previous treatment was ineffective and did not clear the virus, there are several additional treatment options. The best option depends on what treatment was used before, how the treatment was tolerated, the current condition of the liver, and other factors.

Additional treatment options include waiting for the emergence of new treatments, the use of other treatment regimens, and participation in clinical trials. Discuss other treatments and options with your doctor.