What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis is an inflammatory disease that affects the liver and, as a result, causes it to not function properly.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of hepatitis include:
- Cloudy urine
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Itching
- Jaundice
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea or vomiting
- Weight loss
- Headaches
- Pharyngitis and cough
This is followed by pain in the abdominal area and a change in skin color to yellow.
Causes of hepatitis or why it occurs
Hepatitis can be caused by a number of different things:
- Immune cells in the body attacking the liver.
- Virus infections, of which six types are known: A, B, C, D, E and G.
- Liver damage caused by excess alcohol or toxins.
- Overdose of medications such as painkillers.
Can it be prevented?
Hepatitis A and B can be prevented by preventive vaccination. To avoid getting hepatitis B and C, it is important not to share personal items such as razor blades and not to get tattoos or body piercings with instruments that have not been properly sterilized.
Prevention of hepatitis A relies on avoiding unclean food and water, washing hands thoroughly after using the toilet and also after contact with the blood, feces or body fluids of an infected person.
What is the treatment?
Treatment varies depending on the cause of the disease. Treatment for hepatitis A usually consists of a low-fat diet, rest and avoidance of alcohol and other intoxicants. In the case of hepatitis B, drug treatment is added to the above considerations. Hepatitis C also receives pharmacological treatment.
In cases of liver damage, transplantation may be resorted to if necessary.