HEPATITIS - Brief overview and prevention!

What do drugs, alcohol, unprotected sex, tattoos, and body piercings have in common? They’re all things your parents probably lecture you about avoiding, but there’s another connection as well - they can all lead to a liver condition called hepatitis.

What is Hepatitis?

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver, which can be caused by viruses, bacteria infections, medications, or toxic agents.

Type of hepatitis:

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is transmitted through an infected person’s feces directly or indirectly contaminated food contaminated drinking water; cooking utensils. The incubation period is two to six weeks after infection. Hepatitis A is actually considered to be less destructive than some other hepatitis viruses. It rarely leads to permanent liver damage.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is the most serious form of hepatitis.

Hepatitis B is caused by the hepatitis B virus and is spread through sexual contact, blood transfusion or exposure to an infected person’s blood via cuts, open sores, needle sharing, and razor sharing or ear piercing tools. Additionally, hepatitis B can be spread from mother to child at birth. It may lead to a condition called cirrhosis (permanent scarring of the liver) or liver cancer, both of which cause severe illness and even death. The incubation period is four to 25 weeks.

There is no effective cure for hepatitis B. In most cases, a teen who gets hepatitis B will recover from the disease and may develop a natural immunity to future hepatitis B infections. But some people will have the condition forever. Medications can help some people with hepatitis B get rid of the virus.

Hepatitis C

Like hepatitis B, hepatitis C can lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer. Also like hepatitis B, hepatitis C is transmitted from person to person through blood or other body fluids. Hepatitis C is the most serious type of hepatitis.

The incubation period is five to 10 weeks

An estimated 4.1 million Americans are currently infected with the virus. The most common way people become infected is through sharing drug paraphernalia such as needles and straws.

The medications currently used to treat hepatitis C are effective in controlling the disease in some people. However, hepatitis C treatments are not very easy to take, especially because some require frequent injections.

Sign and Symptoms of Hepatitis mild fever muscle or joint aches nausea vomiting loss of appetite slight abdominal pain (on the upper right side) diarrhea fatigue light-colored bowel movements dark-colored urine Treatment of Hepatitis There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A the doctor will recommend the abstinence of alcohol and drugs during recovery.

The only treatment for hepatitis B is rest, combined with a high protein/high carbohydrate diet to repair damaged liver cells and protect the liver.

The only approved treatment for hepatitis C virus, and the only one with demonstrated efficacy, is interferon alfa-2b (Intron A).

Prevention of Hepatitis

To prevent hepatitis A

Wash hands well after using any washroom. Eat only freshly cooked foods. Drink only commercially bottled water or boiled water in places where sanitation and the water supply are questionable and do not eat non-peelable raw fruits or vegetables unless cleaned thoroughly.

To prevent hepatitis B

• Practice safe sex.
• Don’t share needles, razors, toothbrushes, manicure tools or other items that could bear contaminated blood
• Get the hepatitis B vaccination series if you are at risk.

To prevent hepatitis C, remember to:

(if carrier) Cover open wounds, don’t share razors or manicure tools. Practice safe sex. Don’t share needles, razors, toothbrushes, manicure tools or other items that could bear contaminated blood. Limit alcohol intake.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=1306360