Hepatitis - Definition, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Hepatitis Definition

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver from any cause. A disease in which the body's immune system attacks liver cells, causing inflammation of the livers. If not treated, autoimmune hepatitis may be leaded to cirrhosis (scarring and hardening) of the liver and eventually to liver failure. Hepatitis with inflammatory changes around the small bile ducts, producing obstructive jaundice.

Hepatitis is an acute illness with discrete onset of symptoms and jaundice or elevated serum aminotransferase levels. Hepatitis is most often viral, due to infection with one of the hepatitis viruses (A, B, C, D, and E) or another virus. The main nonviral causes of hepatitis are alcohol and drugs.

Hepatitis Causes

Inflammation of the liver , usually caused by bacteria l or viral infection, drugs (including alcohol), toxins, or parasites. Hepatitis may be caused by alcohol overuse. It may be leaded to inflammation of the liver; continued alcohol intake can have severe effects, such as cirrhosis and liver failure. People who are most at risk for developing viral hepatitis are workers in the health care professions, people with multiple sexual partners, intravenous drug users, and hemophiliacs who receive blood clotting factors.

Autoimmune hepatitis is a disease in which the body's immune system attacks liver cells. This causes the liver to become inflamed (hepatitis). Researchers think a genetic factor may predispose some people to autoimmune diseases. Hepatitis virus may be spread primarily by direct contact with human blood. Transmission through blood transfusions that are not screened for HCV infection, through the reuse of inadequately sterilized needles, syringes or other medical equipment,

Hepatitis Symptoms

Many patients infected with hepatitis A, B, and C have few or no symptoms of illness. Clinical features of toxic and drug-induced hepatitis vary with the severity of liver damage and the causative agent.

The other symptoms of the hepatitis may be included:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Jaundice
• dark urine
• vomiting
• weakness
• Tiredness
• Jaundice
• Loss of appetite
• Abdominal pain
• Loss of appetite
• Light-colored stools
• Aching in the abdomen

Hepatitis Treatments

Autoimmune hepatitis may be treated with daily doses of a corticosteroid called prednisone. Your doctor may start you on a high dose (20 to 60 mg per day) and lower the dose to 5 to 15 mg/day as the disease is controlled.

Another medicine, Azathioprine (Imuran) is also used to treat autoimmune hepatitis. Like prednisone, azathioprine suppresses the immune system, but in a different way.

Treatment of chronic viral hepatitis involves medications to eradicate the virus and taking measures to prevent further liver damage.