Symptoms of viral hepatitis

Adrift viral hepatitis are divided into acute and chronic. Viral hepatitis A and E, as well as hepatitis, which are caused by non-hepatotropic viruses have generally acute course, while the other - chronic.

Acute viral hepatitis in most cases in the form of separate periods: infection, preexisting diseases, the height of the illness and convalescence. The incubation period (time from infection until the first signs of the disease) for hepatitis A is 1-7 weeks for hepatitis E - 2 to 8 weeks. The incubation period for viral hepatitis with parenteral route of transmission can vary from a few weeks to a year.

The period of pre-disease (prodromal or preicteric) in acute viral hepatitis often lasts more than a week, but sometimes it can reach the length of two weeks. In rare cases, this period may be entirely absent and the disease starts with jaundice. Symptoms during this period with symptoms similar to many other severe infectious diseases. The patient has a high fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, weakness, malaise, vague abdominal pain Abdominal pain: Types and Symptoms   and in the right hypochondrium. Sometimes the disease begins with catarrhal symptoms - sore throat and runny nose. In the biochemical analysis of blood in this period the increase of liver enzymes - transaminases (ALT and AST).

During the height of illness or jaundice period lasts about four weeks. The main feature of this period is icteric staining of the skin and sclera, dark brown urine and feces discolored. Along with jaundiced coloring sheets appear strong itching, a complete lack of appetite, pain in the right hypochondrium, nausea, sometimes - vomiting, flatulence, unstable stool. Neuropsychiatric changes are characterized by mild retardation, but in severe disease with severe jaundice may be more serious violations, until the hallucinations and disturbances of consciousness. In the biochemical analysis of blood in this period the growth rates of bilirubin (mainly direct). Urobilin also appears in the urine

The recovery period (convalescence) lasts from one week to three months or more. During this period there is a gradual recovery of the patient, and laboratory parameters.

Chronic hepatitis may proceed differently depending on the calling virus, the initial state of health of the patient and his age. There are inactive or chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH), which is characterized by benign course and chronic active hepatitis (CAH) - are constantly progressing disease with large areas of necrosis of the liver, often complicated by cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Symptoms of chronic hepatitis B can be expressed not as bright as the symptoms of acute hepatitis. Patients were mainly concerned about the general weakness, fatigue, heaviness, or pain in the right upper quadrant, anorexia, nausea, intolerance to fatty foods, excessive bleeding, spider veins and petechial hemorrhages in the skin. Sometimes there icteric staining of the skin and itching, small rise in temperature, an increase in liver and increased her pain - it says about the aggravation of the disease.

Outcomes of viral hepatitis can be different. For example, hepatitis A and E are in most cases without any consequences, whereas for the rest of hepatitis in most cases, becomes chronic. Complications of viral hepatitis - a liver function abnormalities with significant necrosis (liver cells are replaced by connective tissue cells). Sometimes after suffering a hepatitis develop dysfunction of the biliary tract and gall bladder - cholangitis and holangioholetsistity. Some types of viral hepatitis (e.g., hepatitis C) often complicated liver cancer.

Viral hepatitis Hepatitis - the scourge of our time   older children occur in the same way as adults, mainly affects children with hepatitis A. But children under a year get sick with hepatitis A is very rare, whereas hepatitis B Hepatitis B - a dangerous inflammation of the liver   they found much more often (infection comes from the mother, both in utero and after birth).

Viral hepatitis and pregnancy

During pregnancy, a woman can get hepatitis B, as it has in this period there is a natural decline in immunity. Viral hepatitis in pregnant women can occur in different ways, but in any case, women should undergo treatment in a hospital. Hepatitis A in pregnant women, as a rule, does not run hard, no complications and ends with complete recovery. But usually readily flowing hepatitis E Hepatitis E - a disease that is most often spread by malfunction   for pregnant women is very dangerous: in developing countries, up to 10% of pregnant women who become ill with hepatitis that die.

Hepatitis B, C, D and G in pregnant women is often more severe and with complications as miscarriage, intrauterine infection of the fetus or the birth of a premature child weakened. Viral hepatitis and pregnancy - is always a threat to the health of mother and child.

Diagnosis of Viral Hepatitis

The diagnosis of viral hepatitis is confirmed by laboratory tests. Markers of viral hepatitis - a RNA virus particles detected by PCR or antibody thereto detected using immunological studies. The presence of acute hepatitis is the presence of antibodies of class immunoglobulin M (IgM), and transferred to a chronic or acute hepatitis lifetime - antibody immunoglobulin class G (IgG). At the same based differential diagnosis of viral hepatitis.

Of great importance in the diagnosis of viral hepatitis has a blood chemistry: an increase in the blood levels of transaminases and direct bilirubin, as well as violation of the ratio of different protein fractions of blood plasma indicates abnormal liver function.

Treatment of hepatitis depends on its type and the general condition of the patient, physician so chosen individually. Unchanged diet in viral hepatitis - it is prescribed to all patients without exception. In the acute phase of the disease - a table number 5A, while improving the state - a table number 5.

Prevention of hepatitis depends on the type of hepatitis. Thus, the prevention of hepatitis A and E is the timely isolation of the patient, disinfect the room in which it is located, the imposition of quarantine in a children's group (up to 35 days after the last of the disease). Disinfection of objects in viral hepatitis carried out only by trained professionals using disinfectants that are active in relation to the identification of infectious agents.

Vaccination against hepatitis B is the best prevention. Currently, developed a vaccine against hepatitis A and B. Vaccination against hepatitis A is based on epidemiological indications (for example, if a person has been in contact with sick or goes to disadvantaged countries to hepatitis A). Vaccination against hepatitis B is included in the national plan for immunization and is mandatory.

Galina Romanenko

Treatment mononucleosis

Home treatment - is usually all that is needed mononucleosis patients. Examination by a doctor is usually required only to make sure that the symptoms are not caused by a serious illness, as well as to get a medical certificate. Recommendations for ill mononucleosis:

• Listen to your body. If you feel tired and weak - rest, and do not force yourself to work. Willpower - this is great, but not worth mononucleosis show it to overcome the feeling of fatigue - because of this healing process can only be delayed;
• Relax and get enough sleep - it is needed by the body, so that it can actively fight infection. Typically, patients remain at home, at least as long as they do not have fever subsides, i.e., at least 10-14 days. At this time, it is strongly recommended to refrain from sports and physical activity. When you feel better, you can make a short walk in the fresh air, but should go home before you feel tired;
• Gargling. While the sore throat passes several times a day, rinse it with brine. To make it, mix one teaspoon of salt to 250 ml of warm, clean water. Lozenges with eucalyptus, sage Sage - cvyaschennaya grass   and / or mint Mint and its useful properties: aromatic freshness   too bad relieve pain in the throat on mononucleosis;
• Drinking plenty of fluids. This is particularly important at a strong heat - consumption of sufficient amounts of liquids helps to avoid dehydration;
• Take nonprescription analgesics and antipyretics, such as paracetamol, aspirin, ibuprofen. These drugs effectively relieve fever, relieve pain in the throat, headaches and body aches.

If a strong increase of the tonsils and / or spleen, your doctor may prescribe a patient mononucleosis brief treatment with corticosteroids.

The consequences of mononucleosis

In general, for most patients the prognosis of mononucleosis is very favorable. Although its symptoms such as weakness and fatigue may persist for a long time, it usually does not lead to serious health consequences. Nevertheless, in some cases, there are the following complications after mononucleosis.

• Mild anemia, which usually takes one to two months.
• Thrombocytopenia - a condition in which the platelet count is below normal, because of what may decrease blood clotting. This disorder also goes by without treatment.
• Hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver. If a complication develops, it is most often 2-4 weeks after the first signs of mononucleosis.
• Inflammation of the meninges, or heart muscle.
• Rupture of the spleen .  The risk of this complication of mononucleosis is especially great on the second and third week of illness .  A very small number of patients splenic rupture is the first sign of infectious mononucleosis .  At rupture of the spleen injury occurs capsule covering the body, resulting in bleeding in the peritoneal cavity .  Bleeding may be more or less severe, depending on the size of the gap, but the patient in any case a medical emergency .  The main feature of splenic rupture is abdominal pain and, sometimes, in other parts of the body .  Pain intensity and even its localization depends on how damaged spleen, and how much blood has flowed into the abdominal cavity .  Pain can be felt on the left side of the abdomen, just below the rib cage, in the left shoulder and the left side of the diaphragm, since the gap of the spleen can cause irritation of the nerves associated with these areas .  This complication can cause mononucleosis, and features such as blurred vision, confusion, nausea, dizziness, Dizziness - if the ground is slipping from under his feet , Fainting; all - consequently lowering blood pressure as a result of internal bleeding. The sharp drop in blood pressure Blood pressure - dangerous if his swing?   with signs of a ruptured spleen usually means that the patient's condition is very serious and requires emergency surgery.

For the diagnosis can also be used computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

An experienced doctor can determine splenic rupture after spending palpation of the abdomen.

In the past, for the treatment of rupture of the spleen is almost always prescribed an operation to remove the body. Currently, physicians known that in many cases, gaps can heal themselves without surgery. Patients who do not require surgery, still have to spend some time in a hospital, under the supervision of a physician, and some of them require a blood transfusion. Surgery is usually prescribed in cases when a doctor suspects that the patient has a strong internal bleeding, or when the patient is very low blood pressure.

Recovering from mononucleosis

People with mild to moderate-severe mononucleosis usually recover within a few weeks. Sore throats are generally tested a week later, the body temperature returns to normal no more than two weeks. Prior to that, patients are urged not to go to school or to work - it is necessary not only (and not so much) in order to prevent infection of other people, but in order to give the body a chance to fully recover.

Lymph nodes after mononucleosis reduced to its normal size in about four weeks. It may take several weeks or even months before a patient to restore the previous level of energy, and it will be as active as he was before the illness.