Hepatitis Symptoms
Hepatitis is derived from the Greek word “hepat” meaning liver and the Greek suffix “-itis” meaning inflammation. It is characterized by the destruction of liver cells and the presence of inflammatory cells in the liver tissues. It can either be acute or self-limiting where it heals on its own or it can be chronic which is longer or more persistent. There are many causes including:
Toxins such as alcohol. Infections. Autoimmune processes which is an immune response against your own cells or tissues.
Often people do not have any symptoms or only develop them further on in the disease so it can be difficult to detect and can be quite advanced before it is actually picked up.
Hepatitis B:
Hepatitis B is inflammation of the liver caused by a DNA virus causing viral hepatitis. At the moment in Western countries only 2% of the population are infected with chronic hepatitis. It is a blood-borne infection which can be transmitted by:
Re-use of contaminated needles. Unprotected sexual contact. Blood transfusions During childbirth from the mother to the child if the mother is infected.
There are several vaccinations for Hepatitis B: it can either be made from recombinant DNA technology or obtained from the plasma of patients with long-standing Hepatitis B virus infections. Recombinant DNA technology involves adding the relevant bits of DNA into a bacterium plasmid which is put back into the bacteria which then replicates itself including the new piece of DNA. This can then be used as a vaccine so that people develop their own antibodies against the virus. The vaccine is targeted at people who are most at risk including:
Family members of people with Chronic Hepatitis B Sexual partners of people with Hepatitis B Newborn babies of mother with Hepatitis B Drug Users ********** men Hospital staff who frequently come into contact with blood.
Symptoms of Acute Hepatitis B:
General ill-health Loss of appetite Nausea Vomiting Body aches Mild fever Dark urine Development of jaundice. This is a yellowing of the sclera (white parts of the eye) the skin and the mucous membrane. It is caused when bilirubin (a yellow break down product of haem which is an iron containing group) levels in the blood increase. This is an insoluble substance which travels to the liver bound to serum albumin. It is joined with glucuronic acid forming bilirubin diglucuroonide which is more soluble and is excreted from the liver as bile. Unnatural cell death (necrosis) reduces the liver’s ability to make and excrete bilirubin leading to a build up of blood in the liver.