Hepatitis Viruses Can Be Reduced
What is Hepatitis?

Hepatitis (plural hepatitides) is an inflammation of the liver characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells in the tissue of the organ. Hepatitis is a swelling of the liver that makes it stop working well.

Symptoms

1) Some people who have hepatitis have no symptoms. Others may have
2) Loss of appetite
3) Nausea and vomiting
4) Diarrhea
5) Dark-colored urine and pale bowel movements
6) Stomach pain
7) Jaundice, yellowing of skin and eyes

Causes

1) Viruses
2) Drug or alcohol use
3) Viral or bacterial infection of the liver
4) Liver injury caused by a toxin (poison)
5) Liver damage caused by interruption of the organs normal blood supply
6) An attack by one’s own immune system through an autoimmune disorder
7) Trauma to the abdomen in the area of the liver

Hepatitis is most commonly caused by one of three viruses:

1)Hepatitis A virus. In children, the most common form of hepatitis is hepatitis A (also called infectious hepatitis). This form is caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), which lives in the stools of infected individuals. Infected stool can be present in small amounts in food and on objects (from doorknobs to diapers).

2)Hepatitis B virus. Also called serum hepatitis is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). HBV can cause a wide spectrum of symptoms ranging from general malaise to chronic liver disease that can lead to liver cancer. HBV spreads through infected body fluids, such as blood, saliva, semen, vaginal fluids, tears, and urine, a contaminated blood transfusion (uncommon in the United States), shared contaminated needles or syringes for injecting drugs, sexual activity with an HBV-infected person, transmission from HBV-infected mothers to their newborn babies

3)Hepatitis C virus. is spread by direct contact with an infected person's blood. Infection with HCV can lead to chronic liver disease and is the leading reason for liver transplant in the United States. The hepatitis C virus can be spread by sharing drug needles, getting a tattoo or body piercing with unsterilized tools, blood transfusions (especially ones that occurred before 1992), transmission from mother to newborn, sexual contact (although this is less common). Hepatitis C is also a common threat in kidney dialysis centers. Rarely, people living with an infected person can contract the disease by sharing items that might contain that person's blood, such as razors or toothbrushes.

In some rare cases, the Epstein Barr Virus (which causes mononucleosis) can also result in hepatitis because it can cause inflammation of the liver. Other viruses and bacteria that also can cause hepatitis include hepatitis D and E, chickenpox, and cytomegalovirus (CMV).

Western Medicine Treatment

Hepatitis A virus. Your body will clear the hepatitis A virus on its own. In most cases of hepatitis A, the liver heals completely in a month or two with no lasting damage.

Hepatitis B virus. Receiving an injection of hepatitis B immune globulin within 24 hours of coming in contact with the virus may help protect you from developing hepatitis B.

Chronic hepatitis B Infection. Antiviral medications. Antiviral medications help fight the virus and slow its ability to damage your liver. Several medications are available. Your doctor can suggest which medications may be most appropriate for you.

Hepatitis C virus. If you have only slight liver abnormalities, you may not need treatment because your risk of future liver problems is very low. For people with hepatitis C infection, a liver transplant is not a cure. Treatment with antiviral medications usually continues after a liver transplant, since hepatitis C infection is likely to recur.

Chronic hepatitis C Infection. Hepatitis C infection is treated with antiviral medications intended to clear the virus from your body. Antiviral medications can cause depression and flu-like signs and symptoms, such as fatigue, fever and headache. Some side effects can be serious enough that treatment must be delayed or stopped in certain cases.

Liver transplant. If your liver has been severely damaged, a liver transplant may be an option. During a liver transplant, the surgeon removes your damaged liver and replaces it with a healthy liver. Most transplanted livers come from deceased donors, though a small number come from living donors.

Adopted from Wei Laboratories, Inc.