Posts Tagged ‘Prevention’

What is Hepatitis? What are symptoms of Hepatitis?

Hepatitis is a medical condition in which the liver cells are inflamed.

Overview
- The word hepatitis comes from the Ancient Greek word hepar (root word hepat) which means ‘liver’, and the suffix Latin itis meaning inflammation.
- Its plural is hepatitides.
- This condition is recognized by the presence of inflammatory cells in the tissue of the organ.
- This condition can progress to cirrhosis and fibrosis.
- Hepatitis may occur with limited or no symptoms.
- It often leads to jaundice, anorexia (poor appetite) and malaise.
- Hepatitis is acute when it lasts less than six months.
- It is chronic when it persists longer.
- A group of viruses known as the hepatitis viruses cause most cases of hepatitis worldwide.
- It can also be due to toxins (notably alcohol, certain medications, some industrial organic solvents and plants).
- It can also be due to other infections and autoimmune diseases.

How many types of hepatitis are there?
There are five main types of hepatitis that are caused by a virus, A, B, C, D, and E – plus types X and G.
- Hepatitis A
This is caused by eating infected food or water.
- Hepatitis B
This is an STD (sexually transmitted disease).
- Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is usually spread through direct contact with the blood of a person who has the disease.
- Hepatitis D
Only a person who is already infected with Hepatitis B can become infected with Hepatitis D.
- Hepatitis E
A person can become infected by drinking water that contains HEV (Hepatitis E Virus).
- Hepatitis X
If hepatitis cannot be attributed to the viruses of hepatitis A, B, C, D, or E, it is called Hepatitis X.
- Hepatitis G:
This is a type of hepatitis caused by the Hepatitis G virus (HGV).

Causes of Hepatitis
- Non-viral infection
- Autoimmune hepatitis
- Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
- Alcoholic hepatitis
- Drug induced
- Other toxins
- Metabolic disorders
- Obstructive
- Autoimmune

What are the signs and symptoms of hepatitis?
The four main symptoms of hepatitis are:

1. Jaundice
- This is the classic symptom of hepatitis.
- This is an accumulation of a chemical called bilirubin in the body’s tissues.
- The liver usually processes this chemical as a waste product but during this condition it is not able to do that job.
- This chemical accumulates in the blood and starts to leak out into body tissue.
- When enough of this chemical accumulates it’s possible to see a yellow color in the skin, urine and especially around the whites of the eyes.

2. Loss of Appetite
- Loss of appetite is also called anorexia.
- It is often the first symptom of acute hepatitis.
- It is being replaced by nausea and vomiting on further progress

3. Fatigue
- Fatigue is a debilitating tiredness.
- It is a big source of frustration for people with liver disease.
- The liver is a vital organ in metabolizing and storing energy.
- When the liver is damaged, extreme weakness is common.

4. Muscle and Joint Aches
- Pain in the muscles and joints can last from days to weeks.
- These are more common in acute hepatitis than in chronic hepatitis.

Symptoms of Acute phase of Hepatitis
The initial phase of hepatitis is called the acute phase. The symptoms are like a mild flu, and may include:
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Mild fever
- Muscle or joint aches
- Nausea
- Slight abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Weight loss

As the patient gets worse, these symptoms may follow:
- Circulation problems (only toxic/drug-induced hepatitis)
- Dark urine
- Dizziness (only toxic/drug-induced hepatitis)
- Drowsiness (only toxic/drug-induced hepatitis)
- Enlarged spleen (only alcoholic hepatitis)
- Headache (only toxic/drug-induced hepatitis)
- Hives
- Itchy skin
- Light colored feces, the feces may contain pus
- Yellow skin, whites of eyes, tongue (jaundice)

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What is Hepatitis? What are causes of Hepatitis?

Hepatitis is a medical condition in which the liver cells are inflamed.
Overview
- The word hepatitis comes from the Ancient Greek word hepar (root word hepat) which means ‘liver’, and the suffix Latin itis meaning inflammation.
- Its plural is hepatitides.
- This condition is recognized by the presence of inflammatory cells in the tissue of the organ.
- This condition can progress to cirrhosis and fibrosis.
- Hepatitis may occur with limited or no symptoms.
- It often leads to jaundice, anorexia (poor appetite) and malaise.
- Hepatitis is acute when it lasts less than six months.
- It is chronic when it persists longer.
- A group of viruses known as the hepatitis viruses cause most cases of hepatitis worldwide.
- It can also be due to toxins (notably alcohol, certain medications, some industrial organic solvents and plants).
- It can also be due to other infections and autoimmune diseases.

How many types of hepatitis are there?
There are five main types of hepatitis that are caused by a virus, A, B, C, D, and E – plus types X and G.
- Hepatitis A
This is caused by eating infected food or water.
- Hepatitis B
This is an STD (sexually transmitted disease).
- Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is usually spread through direct contact with the blood of a person who has the disease.
- Hepatitis D
Only a person who is already infected with Hepatitis B can become infected with Hepatitis D.
- Hepatitis E
A person can become infected by drinking water that contains HEV (Hepatitis E Virus).
- Hepatitis X
If hepatitis cannot be attributed to the viruses of hepatitis A, B, C, D, or E, it is called Hepatitis X.
- Hepatitis G:
This is a type of hepatitis caused by the Hepatitis G virus (HGV).

Acute Causes

1. Viral hepatitis:
- Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E.
- Yellow fever
- Adenoviruses
- Parvovirus B19

2. Non-viral infection
- Toxoplasma
- Leptospira
- Q fever
- Rocky mountain spotted fever
- Alcohol
- Toxins: Amanita toxin in mushrooms, carbon tetrachloride, asafetida
- Drugs: Paracetamol, amoxycillin, antituberculosis medicines, minocycline and many others (see longer list below).
- Ischemic hepatitis (circulatory insufficiency)
- Pregnancy
- Auto immune conditions, e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- Metabolic diseases, e.g., Wilson’s disease

Chronic Causes
Viral hepatitis:
- Hepatitis B with or without hepatitis D.
- Hepatitis C (neither hepatitis A nor hepatitis E causes chronic hepatitis).

Autoimmune Causes
- Alcohol
- Drugs
- Methyldopa
- Nitrofurantoin
- Isoniazid
- Ketoconazole

Heredity Causes
- Wilson’s disease.
- Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency.
- Primary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis occasionally mimic chronic hepatitis.

Alcoholic Hepatitis Causes
- Long term alcohol consumption.
- Patients with chronic alcoholic liver disease.
- Alcoholic cirrhosis.

A large number of drugs can cause hepatitis:
- Agomelatine (antidepressant).
- Allopurinol.
- Amitriptyline (antidepressant).
- Amiodarone (antiarrhythmic).
- Atomoxetine.
- Azathioprine.
- Halothane (a specific type of anesthetic gas).
- Hormonal contraceptives.
- Ibuprofen and indomethacin (NSAIDs).
- Isoniazid (INH), rifampicin, and pyrazinamide (tuberculosis-specific antibiotics).
- Ketoconazole (antifungal).
- Loratadine (antihistamine).
- Methotrexate (immune suppressant).
- Methyldopa (antihypertensive).
- Minocycline (tetracycline antibiotic).
- Nifedipine (antihypertensive).
- Nitrofurantoin (antibiotic).
- Paracetamol (acetaminophen in the United States) can cause hepatitis when taken in an overdose. The severity of liver damage may be limited by prompt administration of acetylcysteine.
- Phenytoin and valproic acid (antiepileptics).
- Troglitazone (antidiabetic, withdrawn in 2000 for causing hepatitis).
- Zidovudine (antiretroviral i.e., against HIV).
- Some herbs and nutritional supplements.

Other Toxins that can cause hepatitis:
- Amatoxin-containing mushrooms.
- White phosphorus, an industrial toxin and war chemical.
- Carbon tetrachloride.
- Cylindrospermopsin, a toxin from the cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii and other cyanobacteria.

Metabolic disorders can cause hepatitis:
- Hemochromatosis (due to iron accumulation).
- Wilson’s disease(copper accumulation) can cause liver inflammation.
- Necrosis.
- Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is effectively a consequence of metabolic syndrome.

Vertigo – Causes, Symptoms, Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment

Dizziness and vertigo are very common problems that requires visiting a physician quite often. More important it is a symptom and not a disease. Dizziness defines two kind of feelings:
- Lightheadedness: There is a feeling of faint in this. Your environment is stationary. It often goes away after taking rest. Sometimes, a feeling of nausea also comes when you are light-headed.
- Vertigo: It is a feeling in which you feel that your environment is also moving around you. There is a feeling of spinning, whirling, falling, or tilting.

It is very important to note that all vertigo comes with dizziness, but not all dizziness comes with vertigo.

The cause of vertigo is mainly related to the :
- Problem with vestibular system. It integrates the senses and movement and keeps the objects in visual focus as the body moves.
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)is a type of vertigo that develops due to collections of calcium in the inner ear.
- Inflammation of inner ear because of some viral or bacterial infection.
- Acoustic neuroma which is tumor of nerve tissue.
- Decreased blood flow to the base of the brain.
- Head trauma and neck injury.
- Migraine may also cause vertigo.

In case of vertigo, you can take precautions like:
- Take plenty of rest when symptoms of vertigo are there.
- Sudden movements should be avoided.
- Sudden position changes should be avoided.
- Do not increase any kind of activity immediately. It should be gradually increased.
- Take support of some cane or something while walking as you can loose balance.
- Avoid bright lights, TV, and reading during a vertigo attacks.

Diagnosis of vertigo is done on the basis of:
- Past history and clinical presentation.
- Neurological examination which involves judging the eye movements.
- Neurological examination also checks hearing.
- Neurological examination also checks one-sided weakness, loss of coordination, or loss of balance.
- Imaging of the brain can also be done.
- MRI evaluates the cerebellum more accurately.
- CT Scan can be used if there is a chance of bleeding.

Treatment of vertigo is not usually recommended if your vertigo lasts only second or minutes. But if it lasts for long, following treatment options are available:
- Oral steroid medications are given to reduce the inflammation of inner ear.
- Maneuvers are used to reposition the crystals and debris in the semicircular canals in case of inner ear inflammation.
- Intravenous diazepam can be considered for intractable symptoms and vomiting.
- Balance rehabilitation helps the brain adjust its response to changes in the vestibular system. It trains your eyes and other senses to “learn” how to compensate.