Family Medicine

Viral hepatitis

- October 3, 2022 | October 3, 2022 - Kate

Viral hepatitis Viral hepatitis is a large group of human infectious diseases characterized by symptoms of general intoxication and predominant liver damage. Diseases

Viral hepatitis

Viral hepatitis is a large group of human infectious diseases characterized by symptoms of general intoxication and predominant liver damage. The diseases have a similar clinical picture and occur in icteric, anicteric and asymptomatic forms. Viral hepatitis A, B, C are most often registered in our republic.

Viral hepatitis A (HAV)

HAV is one of the most widespread intestinal infections in the world. It used to be called "Botkin's disease", because. S. P. Botkin in 1888 for the first time suggested the infectious nature of human “catarrhal jaundice”. The viral nature of the disease was proven in 1937 in the United States.

The source of infection are patients with various forms of HAV. The route of transmission of the infection is fecal-oral. Infection of people occurs when drinking water and food infected with the HA virus, sometimes through household contact. The greatest susceptibility to GA is typical for children from 2 to 14 years old. But in recent years, the CAA has been “getting old”. In older people, the icteric form predominates, and the older the patient, the more severe the disease. In patients of “younger age”, up to 90% of the disease proceeds in an anicteric form.

The HA virus is quite stable in the external environment: it can survive for several months at a temperature of +4°C, for several years at a temperature of -20°C, for several weeks at room temperature. The virus dies when boiled after 5 minutes, as well as when exposed to disinfectants and UV (ultraviolet radiation).

The HA virus enters the human body through the mucous membrane of the small intestine, multiplies in it and the lymph nodes, then enters the liver cells with blood – hepatocytes, in which an inflammatory process occurs and even cell death. All this leads to impaired liver function.

The incubation (latent) period for HAV is usually 15 to 30 days.

In the initial (preicteric) period, which lasts from 3 to 7 days, there are flu-like symptoms: fever up to 37-39 ° C, chills, headache, aching muscles and joints, there may be a slight runny nose and sore throat. In other cases, there are dyspeptic disorders: a decrease or disappearance of appetite, pain and heaviness in the epigastric region or in the right hypochondrium, nausea, vomiting, sometimes frequent stools up to 2-5 times a day.

In some patients, the disease begins gradually, body temperature remains normal, weakness prevails, efficiency decreases, irritability, drowsiness, headache, dizziness appear. Most often there is a mixed variant of the onset of the disease with the simultaneous severity of signs of several syndromes.

It is very important that the diagnosis of VGA was put in exactly the pregenial period and the patient was in timely isolated, because At this time, the maximum selection of the virus with feces and, accordingly, infection of others occurs. The patient increases and the liver increases, darkens the urine (acquires dark brown color), and the cavalous masses become lighter, sometimes colorless. Then, with the yellow form of the disease, the jaundice period occurs, which is manifested by the yellow scool, the mucous membranes of the rotogling, and then the skin. In the blood, the level of bilirubin, hepatic enzymes is significantly increased, other biochemical label function indicators are changed.

The duration of the disease depends on gravity, and in most cases VGA ends with recovery. Chronic flow and lethal outcomes are very rarely observed.

Viral hepatitis B (VGV)

This is the most dangerous and widespread in all countries of the world, including in Belarus, the form of viral hepatitis, a frequent cause of cirrhosis and primary liver cancer; It is among the top ten casual causes of the death of the population (ninth place), much aid aid.

Hypathite virus in extremely resistant in the external environment. In blood and its preparations, it remains for years, at room temperature on the subjects of the environment, it retains vitality within three months.

The source of infection – patients and virosters that distinguish the virus into the environment with all bolgic liquids of the organism: saliva, tear, bile, urine, feces, breast milk, vaginal secret, sperm and blood. Infection occurs when blood transfusion and through mucous membranes and damaged skin:

  • with sexual contacts;
  • When using common with patients with toothbrushes, razor and manicure devices, washcloths, comb, towels, bed linen, cutlery, toys;
  • when applying tattoos, piercing, haircuts, manicure, pedicure with unsolicited tools;
  • intrauterine from mother to the fetus, or during childbirth, if the mother is hospital HBV or is a virus monitor;
  • when conducting therapeutic and diagnostic manipulations by individual tools and devices (gynecological, dental, surgical, endoscopic, etc.);
  • When intravenous drug use in the case of a group use of one or more syringes, and also if a solution of a drug already contains a hepatitis B virus in the process of production, even when using a disposable syringe.

It should be noted that susceptibility to the virus is 100%, and the dose of infection is very low.

The incubation period with GW is often from 60 to 120 days, the maximum is 180 days.

The initial period is characterized by weakness, a decrease in appetite, nausea, frequent vomiting. Worried pain in the right hypochondrium, pain in large joints at night and in the morning, appear rash on the skin and itching.In the future, the urine acquires dark color, the feces are discolored, jaundice develops, which is characterized by more pronounced and resistant clinical symptoms than with ha.

However, GW can flow in asymptomatic form or in the form of virusism. In this case, the ill due to the lack of clinical manifestations remain not identified and for a long time distribute infection among the people around them. In the future, most carriers become sick chronic formations of HBV.

Viral Hepattit C (HCV)

HCV is also a widespread infection, especially recently. It is caused by gipathite C viricals, which is transmitted from a patient or a virus monitoring the same ways as the Hypathite V virus, but in recent years, the "leader" has become drugs.

The incubation period with the HS is more often 1-3 months. Finding into the liver, the GS virus extremely rarely causes a serious course of the disease. TheAss usually proceeds easily, often without jaundice, but often there is a chronization of the process with the formation of such formidable complications such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. Therefore, the virus is called a "silent killer." After all, often people find out that they are infected with the GS virus in 10-15 years, when complications were revealed.

How to prevent virus hepatitis disease

Prevention of VGA is the same as other intestinal infections. A significant place in prevention occupies strict observance of personal hygiene rules: washing hands with soap before meals, after visiting the toilet, travel in transport, contact with money and other items where the virus can be. It is necessary to wash the fruit, vegetables, berries with boiling water, vegetables, berries before use; drink boiled or bottled drinking water; Do not buy food from sellers "from the street." If there was contact with the patient of the VGA, it is necessary to turn to the doctor.

Specific VGA prevention is used, i.e. Vaccination. Now there are vaccinations against VGA to children in 6 years before admission to school. Vaccination consists of two vaccinations made with an interval of 6 months. According to epidemic testimony, they instill children who are in Kotakta with Patients in a family focus or organized institutions. To protect ourselves from the disease, epidemiologists recommend making the vaccination of those people who are traveling to Asia and Africa for a long time with a high level of incidence of VGA.

There is also VGV vaccine-philax. Today in the republic, VGV vaccination is held by all newborns in the first day of life and further according to the national calendar vaccination (0, 1, 5 months) and adolescents at 13 years; Family members of the patient, doctors, patients with risk groups.

It is expected that in the coming years will be possible and vaccination against HCV. In general, the prevention of both VGV and HCV should be aimed at interrupting artificial and natural ways to hit the virus to the body: the fight against drug addiction (persons,up to 90% of those who inject drugs intravenously can be infected with hepatitis B and C viruses); using a condom protects against sexual transmission; do not use other people's combs, scissors, towels and other items; the use of only washing instruments for surgical and other medical interventions, as well as hairdressing and cosmetic procedures, etc.

In most cases, a person is responsible for his own health and can protect himself from many diseases, including viral hepatitis, by observing personal prevention measures himself and demanding this from those on whom his safety often depends.