Various Types Of Hepatitis And Their Causes Health Essay

ompare the various types of hepatitis and their causes

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. There are many causes of hepatitis like: different types of toxins, some drugs, some diseases, abuse of alcohol as well as some bacteria and viruses. There are various types of hepatitis caused by various viruses namely: A, B, C, D and E. (WHO, 2011).

Hepatitis A (HAV).

According to WHO, 2012, it’s caused by hepatitis type A virus. It’s not severe and doesn’t reach the chronic stages of liver inflammation. HAV is basically transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food or fluids. It can spread from one person to another through this contaminated food water consumption to one’s alimentary canal.Various Types Of Hepatitis And Their Causes Health Essay.  It is easily to prevent HAV by vaccination and children should receive it at the age of one to two years. Hygiene contributes a lot in its spreading i.e. food and personal hygiene. HAV incubation period is about 10 to 40 days. Its symptoms are:

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Loss of appetite,

Distaste for cigarettes,

Nausea, vomiting and diarrheas

Aching muscles and joints

Stomach ache

Mild fever

Yellowing of the skin and itching, mucous membrane and the eyes / jaundice

Light-colored stools

Dark urine

When the latter symptoms develop, the infected person usually begins to get better.

The duration of the disease is typically two to three weeks, but individuals may remain symptomatic for some months.

People at risk of the disease are the children under 10 years and people, Alcoholics or Young children others like people planning to move to another country are also advised to take the vaccination. Blood test is taken to verify the disease. Food hygiene like cooking well your food and washing hands and fruits and vegetables before eating and limiting the rate of alcohol and fatty foods hard for the liver to process is considered as a way to prevent oneself and to prevent further liver damage. Nurses educate patients on:

healthy balanced nutritional diet

good rest, proper hygiene

nutrition

hand washing techniques

proper waste disposal

Hepatitis B (HBV)

It is caused by type hepatitis type B virus. It’s a more serious type of hepatitis as it can advance to acute and chronic stages of liver inflammation resulting to more serious cases like cirrhosis, cancer of the liver or even death of the victim. Various Types Of Hepatitis And Their Causes Health Essay. HBV is spread through contamination of body fluids e.g. Blood, children sucking mothers milk, tattoo from unsterile equipment’s, semen from an infected person to a healthy person which are introduced to the circulatory system through an opening like a cut on the skin. The degree in which the disease has affected the liver contributes a lot to its treatment. Antiviral medication informs of injection or pill is given to curb liver damage for about a half an year with very close medical observation. They are like: Interferon Alpha, Lamivudine and also Baraclude. Vaccination against HBV infection is recommended to kids and anyone at risk.( WHO, 2010)

Symptoms which helps health professionals to identify the disease are;

Flu

nausea, diarrhea, vomiting

jaundice

skin itching

loss of appetite

weight loss

A liver biopsy is taken to see the level at which the disease has affected the victim and the diagnosis available. Children are mostly affected and can be very fatal with the followed by adults. Patient’s treatment plan lasts for about six months with close patient monitoring. Nurses advices the patients to:

Avoid alcohol

Get plenty of rest

Maintain a healthy diet

A void sharing of sharp equipment and their proper handling and disposal.

Hepatitis C (HCV)

It is caused by the hepatitis C virus. It’s slow in its development from the time it is introduced to your body to the time that you notice; therefore a lot of people notice it in its advanced level. In its chronic stage it caused liver cirrhosis (scarring), liver failure, and cancer of the liver as well as death. Various Types Of Hepatitis And Their Causes Health Essay. Like HVB, it is spread troughs introduction to the circulatory system through an opening like a cut on the skin and body fluid mixes with the infectious fluids like blood or serum. Treatment is by antiviral drugs such as interferon and Ribavirin. There isn’t any found vaccination for hepatitis C virus.

Health professionals look for these symptoms:

flu-like illnesses

vomiting

appetite loss

loss of weight

jaundice

skins becomes itchy

nausea

diarrhea

A blood test is taken to confirm the infection presence or not.

Some small percentage of people clear the virus automatically by their natural immune in 6 months’ time others will develop chronic HCV, with mild symptoms or not these kind carry infections to the rest of their lives and may affect others they are contact with. Nurses or other health care givers advice on:

Never share needles, syringes or mixing spoons while eating to avoid blood or fluid contamination.

Using a condom in sexual intercourse prevents the virus form spreading through genital cuts and sores.

Avoid sharing toothbrushes

A void sharing shaving equipment i.e. razors

Nurses also educate good nutrition, enough fluids intake and remaining active physically helps managing the infection. (WHO et.al. 2012)

Hepatitis D (HDV)

Ii is a very is a serious type of hepatitis from D virus. People who are affected by hepatitis B virus are at risk of getting the diseases the HDV requires the HBV reproduce and in its multiplication. Spread from the infected host to a healthy host trough infected body fluids. It mainly causes the liver to swell therefore not functioning well. Antiviral medication is given to curb it.Various Types Of Hepatitis And Their Causes Health Essay.  Symptoms and management are alike to those of hepatitis B. if the hepatitis B is taken care of the D virus eliminates itself automatically as it depends on B virus to replicate. As in B patient is advised on:

1) Avoid alcohol

2) Get plenty of rest

3) Maintain a healthy diet

4) A void sharing of sharp equipment and their proper handling and disposal. (WHO et.al. 2012).

Hepatitis E (HEV)

According to WHO et.al 2012, it is caused by the hepatitis E virus. HEV it is caused mainly by consumption of contaminated water/fluids by faeces. Many countries with poor water handling facilities have got problems in eradicating this disease. Some animals are also major carriers of the disease and eating of their meat harmful. Research shows that researchers have not yet found an appropriate vaccine for HEV but prednisolone is more used to curb it. Its incidence is between people of age 15 to 40 years of age while pregnant women are more severely affected.

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Prevention of HEV is based on education on:

Excellent treatment and disposal of human waste

Good and protected water supplies

Excellent personal hygiene

Excellent sanitary food preparation

CONCLUSION AND REFRECTION

Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver and is causes of hepatitis like: different types of toxins, some drugs, some diseases, abuse of alcohol as well as some bacteria and viruses. There are various types of hepatitis caused by various viruses namely: A, B, C, D and E. Hepatitis A and E are caused by unhygienic handling of foods. Others are transmitted through contaminated body fluids. Cure for hepatitis depends on the type of it and the period it has been in the host. We have vaccines for curbing hepatitis together with general personal hygiene and food hygiene and also eating proper nutrition and enough fluids. Proper waste handling is also considered to avoid getting into contact with the infected equipment like needles. I have learnt a lot about how to protect myself and others on various types of hepatitis and how to curb and cope with the infections. I am hoping to encounter people with the infections so that I can learn more practically. Various Types Of Hepatitis And Their Causes Health Essay.