Science knows several types of hepatitis. All of them have identical signs - the icteric color of the skin. In rare cases, this ailment can be anicteric in nature. To determine hepatitis in a child, you need to know the symptom of jaundice.
In today's article, we will talk about the first manifestations of this infectious disease. Hepatitis (jaundice) is characterized by yellowing of the sclera of the eyes, skin, and oral mucosa. This is due to an increase in the level of bilirubin in the blood of the child. Diagnose the cause can only a qualified doctor based on research methods.
The physiological form of hepatitis in newborns
Physiological jaundice appears in the first days of a baby’s life. This happens due to the immaturity of the liver. The newborn's body lacks enzymes that bilirubin bind. A symptom of jaundice is characterized by drowsiness, rarely vomiting, yellowing of the whites of the eyes, seizures, and a decrease in the sucking reflex. In the later stages, deafness, mental retardation and paralysis may appear.
Usually, after a few weeks, such manifestations disappear without a trace. Specialists around the world refuse to treat physiological jaundice, claiming that this condition does not harm the baby. In rare cases, with high rates of bilirubin, light therapy is used to reduce the toxicity of this specific substance.
Hemolytic jaundice in infants
It arises as a result of an immunological conflict between a mother and a child. This happens when a woman does not have a certain antigen, which the fetus has. Hemolytic disease is observed at an early stage (in the first days of birth) and can persist for several months. Symptom of jaundice is manifested by staining of the sclera of the eyes, an increase in the spleen and liver.
The color of the skin of the baby becomes bright yellow. If anemia is present, then the baby looks very pale, in this case jaundice does not seem too bright. As a therapy, a blood transfusion is used.
Types of hepatitis in adult children
There are 3 types of viral hepatitis: A (Botkin's disease), B (serum type) and C (dangerous mutating virus). Each form has its own manifestations and incubation period. The most common disease is hepatitis A. The pancreatic period is observed for about 7 days. This disease (jaundice) is well cured. Symptoms of this type of disease in a child are as follows:
- weakness, body aches, migraine;
- a sharp increase in temperature;
- fever (chills);
- pain in the right side;
- bitterness in the mouth;
- vomiting, diarrhea;
- lack of appetite;
- itching on the skin;
- darkening of urine, discoloration of feces;
- Yellowing of the oral mucosa, eye proteins and skin.
Hepatitis B (serum type) has an identical clinical picture with form A. In children, most often the infection is asymptomatic. A symptom of jaundice type B is characterized by a rash of red rash, bleeding gums and a significant increase in the spleen and liver. The icteric character can last up to three weeks. The outcome of the treatment is favorable, but the recovery period is quite long - about 3 months.
The most insidious and dangerous among all types is hepatitis C, which can be in the human body for several years in a latent form (without manifestations). The first signs are:
- general weakness;
- bad condition;
- decreased appetite;
- lethargy and light staining of the sclera.
It should be noted that in more than half of patients, the virus goes into the chronic stage. Therefore, at the slightest manifestations, you should be tested and, when confirming the diagnosis, start treatment, since jaundice can cause serious complications (cancer and cirrhosis).
Symptoms and treatment of hepatitis
We talked about the clinical manifestations. It must be remembered that the first sign of any hepatitis is yellowness of the skin and eye proteins. Therapy in newborns and young children is under the strict supervision of a physician. It is mandatory to follow a diet, taking vitamin complexes, choleretic drugs and enterosorbents, which help relieve signs of intoxication. After recovery, the child is forbidden to engage in physical exercises for six months.