Viral hepatitis - inflammation of the liver of viral etiology. A variety of infectious diseases can cause the disease: AIDS, chickenpox, herpes simplex infection , etc. In all these cases, liver damage is only one of the few symptoms of the disease.
In medicine, viral hepatitis refers to a specific viral infection in which liver damage is the main marker marker of the disease. Today, several strains of viruses are known that can cause chronic viral hepatitis. Viruses that cause the disease are usually denoted by letters (A, B, C, D, etc.).
According to the method of infection, viral hepatitis is divided into two types: intestinal infection ("fecal-oral" route of infection), hepatitis A and E belong to this group; blood infection (transmission route is blood or semen), the representative of this group is viral hepatitis B, C, D.
Viral hepatitis A. The most common intestinal infection, the incidence rate is directly related to the sanitary and hygienic condition of the territory and the quality of drinking water. Everyone can get viral hepatitis, children under 14 years old are three times more likely to get sick compared to adults. If the waterway of infection prevails, then it is clear that the more people consume water, the more likely they are to become infected.
Viral hepatitis E. Very similar to viral hepatitis A, but spreads most often in Africa and Asia. For hepatitis E infection, the maximum infectious dose must be received in the body. This explains the fact that hepatitis E is rarely infected through the household (dirty hands).
Viral hepatitis B is transmitted hematologically and sexually. About 50 million people suffer from it annually, more than 2 million die. Do not think that if you carefully choose sexual partners, then you will not get hepatitis B. Infection sometimes happens through passionate kisses or a common toothbrush. Cases have been reported when infection occurred during routine cosmetic procedures (tattoos, ear piercing, use of general razors, etc.). The incubation period can be up to six months. Quite often, hepatitis B is complicated by cirrhosis of the liver.
Viral hepatitis: symptoms
The main signs of the disease include jaundice (icteric staining of the mucous membranes and membranes and skin), dark urine and light feces. Other clinical manifestations can be very diverse: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, hyperthermia, headache. Unfortunately, the possibilities of modern medicine are not unlimited, patients with severe forms of the disease are treated for a long time in a hospital. The treatment is ineffective, quite complicated and very expensive. With mild and moderate forms of the disease, diet therapy is prescribed. Patients should consume easily digestible foods and plenty of water. Fats are excluded from the diet. The duration of such a diet should be at least six months. Doctors advise eating fractionally, in small portions, but often. Special food processing (twisting, grater, slicing, grinding, etc.) improves its absorption. Food is better to eat in a warm form. You can’t drink carbonated drinks, eat fried foods, and eat appetite stimulants: sauces, seasonings, pickles, smoked meats, as well as all kinds of marinades, chewing gum, coffee, chocolate, cocoa, mushrooms, canned food, pastries and ice cream.
During the period of exacerbation of the disease, the patient needs a plentiful drink: dried fruit compote, tea with honey or sugar, rosehip broth, 5% glucose. You can eat shabby fruit, watermelon. When the condition improves - liquid cereals on the water, fruit juices, vegetable soups. After the disappearance of jaundice - low-fat cottage cheese, baked apples, low-fat varieties of fish and meat, vegetable purees.