The liver is the most important organ in the human body. It is a gland of external secretion, which is responsible for neutralization of toxic chemical compounds, normalization of blood circulation, digestion and other processes. Inflammation of liver tissue is called hepatitis. The term unites a group of diseases of different origin.
Hepatitis - Species
According to the clinical course, this pathology is classified into an acute and chronic form. For the purpose of proper treatment it is important to find out which hepatitis is due to etiotropic differentiation (what caused it):
- infectious (viral);
- toxic;
- autoimmune;
- ray.
Acute hepatitis
With this type of disease, inflammation of the liver occurs with severe symptoms that are noticeable from the first days. Knowing what hepatitis is and how it manifests, it is easy to diagnose its acute form and begin therapy. This type of disease has a favorable prognosis and in most cases ends in recovery, it rarely gets a lingering course.
Chronic hepatitis
The clinical picture of the inflammatory process is meager, the disease progresses asymptomatically for a long time. People with chronic hepatitis note that there are only nonspecific signs. Without treatment, sluggish disease leads to the development of liver cirrhosis. This is a condition in which the normal cells of her parenchyma are replaced by a connective tissue and lose their functions. Sometimes the disease is so severe that there is a primary cancer of the liver.
Hepatitis Causes
The origin of inflammation depends on the form and nature of the pathology presented. It is easy to determine what triggered infectious hepatitis - the pathways of infection correspond to the causative agent of such a disease (virus, bacterium, parasite). In other cases it is more difficult to determine the true cause of the pathology, but it practically does not affect the basic treatment regimen.
Infectious hepatitis
The disease is primary and secondary. In most situations, viral hepatitis is diagnosed. It provokes the corresponding pathogens. Classification includes such types of pathology:
- Hepatitis A (Botkin's disease). Inflammation is caused by the HAV virus. It is transmitted by the fecal-oral route, which means infected water and food.
- Hepatitis B. The cause is the HBV virus. They are infected with sexual, domestic, vertical way. The causative agent is found in protein biological fluids - sperm, blood, saliva and others.
- Hepatitis C. HCV virus is also transmitted with biological fluids, a particular frequent cause of infection is considered to be contact with infected blood.
- Hepatitis D. Disease accompanies the second form of pathology. The penetration of the HDV virus occurs either simultaneously or after infection with HBV. The path of transmission is through the blood and its derivatives.
- Hepatitis E. This type of inflammation is similar to Botkin's disease , which complicates the diagnosis. The virus is transmitted by the fecal-oral route.
- Hepatitis F. A poorly known species, known for its research results and epidemiological data. Under this form of disease, 2 viruses are meant to develop after infection with other types of hepatitis and are transmitted with biological fluids.
- Hepatitis G. The causative agent has several possible variants. The HGV virus penetrates the body with blood and with unprotected sex, but it is not yet clear whether it independently causes an inflammatory process or is associated with a different type of disease.
- Secondary hepatitis. The defeat of the liver can accompany the viruses of herpes , rubella, Lassa fever, mumps and others.
Bacterial forms develop against the background of syphilis and leptospirosis . Parasitic types of hepatitis are the result of such infections:
- toxoplasmosis ;
- amebiasis;
- schistosomiasis;
- opisthorchiasis ;
- fascioliasis.
Toxic hepatitis
Damage to liver tissue often occurs due to severe poisoning. If you do not understand what hepatitis is and apply unsuitable therapy, dangerous complications can develop. The causes of inflammation of the liver in this case are as follows:
- alcohol abuse;
- addiction;
- taking medicines;
- intoxication with chemical compounds.
Autoimmune Hepatitis
A rare disease that occurs only in chronic form, which often leads to progressive cirrhosis. So far it has not been possible to establish why such a hepatitis occurs - the inflammation of the liver begins without obvious reasons. Presumably it is caused by the influence of negative environmental factors in people with certain genetic characteristics.
Radiation Hepatitis
The considered type of inflammation is diagnosed mainly in cancer patients after using ionizing therapy. Representatives of some professions also have this hepatitis - the causes of the onset include:
- the use of radioactive weapons;
- accidents at nuclear power plants;
- experiments using ionizing radiation and other factors.
Inflammation of the liver - symptoms
The clinical picture of the pathology depends on the nature of the course of the disease. In acute form, the first signs of hepatitis resemble infection with the flu:
- heat;
- weakness, lethargy, apathy;
- headache;
- deterioration of appetite;
- pallor of the skin;
- sweating;
- decreased efficiency;
- nausea;
- thirst.
When diagnosing it is important to remember what is hepatitis - an inflammation of the liver parenchyma. Gradually, the above symptoms are joined by specific symptoms:
- darkening of urine;
- jaundice of the skin, sclera and mucous membranes;
- clarification of feces;
- severe drowsiness;
- normalization of body temperature or its reduction to subfebrile values;
- lack of appetite, anorexia ;
- dyspeptic disorders.
Symptoms of chronic hepatitis are less pronounced, often a sluggish disease is not accompanied by any noticeable symptoms. It is possible to suspect inflammatory processes in the liver according to this clinical picture:
- periodic pain in the right side, intensifying with physical exertion and using "heavy" food, alcohol;
- redness of the skin on the palms ;
- slight yellowing of the sclera;
- stool disorders;
- flatulence;
- an unpleasant odor or taste in the mouth;
- deterioration of appetite;
- nausea, rarely vomiting;
- tendency to bruising and bleeding;
- moderately elevated body temperature;
- sleep disorders;
- fatigue;
- headache;
- mental lability;
- increase in liver size.
Analysis for hepatitis
Diagnosis of the presented pathology begins with examination and questioning of a person, identifying signs characteristic of the inflammatory process. Confirm suspicions is helped by a blood test for hepatitis, in the results of which an increased concentration of bilirubin and aminotransferases is detected. If the cause of the disease is the virus, there is a causative agent in the biological fluid. In the case of an autoimmune origin of inflammation in the blood, a high level of antibodies is determined:
- to microsomes of the liver;
- antinuclear;
- to smooth muscle cells.
To clarify the diagnosis, the physician collects data on the following factors:
- professional activity;
- contact with poisons and other chemical compounds;
- reception of hepatotoxic drugs;
- methods of treatment of oncological diseases;
- exposure to ionizing radiation;
- the presence of addictions;
- probability and frequency of contact with biological fluids.
Treatment of hepatitis
Therapy is developed by an experienced doctor and depends on the type of pathology. There are 3 options for treating inflammation of the liver, which are used in parallel:
- pharmacological preparations;
- herbal remedies;
- special diet.
Preparations for inflammation of the liver
Any form of hepatitis is accompanied by the release of a large number of poisonous substances, which poisons the body and blocks the filtering functions of the glands of external secretion. For this reason, detoxification therapy is first carried out, aimed at purifying blood and normalizing metabolic processes. Intravenous (with a dropper) are introduced solutions:
- glucose with vitamin C;
- sodium chloride with a hepatoprotector (Glutargin or analogue);
- Rheosorbylact and synonyms.
Additionally, sorbents for oral administration are prescribed:
- Atoxyl;
- Enterosgel ;
- Polysorb.
To stop spasms of smooth muscles apply nyxes:
- Papaverine;
- But-Shpa;
- Drotaverine and analogues.
To restore cells of the parenchyma of the damaged organ and normalize its functions, hepatoprotectors help:
- Essentiale;
- Heptral;
- Sowaldi;
- Karsil and analogues.
Targeted therapy depends on what triggered the inflammation of the liver - the treatment can include different medications that correspond to the pathogen pathogens:
- antiviral (Interferon, Telaprevir and synonyms);
- antibiotics (Doxycycline, Oxycycline and others);
- antiparasitic (Praziquantel, Albendazole and analogues);
- corticosteroid hormones (Prednisolone, Methylprednisolone and synonyms).
To improve the well-being and facilitate the patient's condition, symptomatic treatment is prescribed, which includes:
- antipyretic medicines;
- vitamins;
- antiemetics;
- digestive enzymes and other drugs.
Herbs for liver inflammation
The most famous natural remedy for hepatitis is the milk thistle. It is often used for its meal, but it is also possible to take oil. Milk thistle is recommended to eat 1 teaspoonful 5 times a day, in its pure form, washed down with water, or added to ready-made meals. Vegetable oil should be drunk 5 ml 3-5 times a day for half an hour before meals, for several months.
Treatment of hepatitis with folk remedies includes other effective recipes, especially those with bee products. Effective is a medicine from honey (1 tablespoon) and pergie or pollen (1 teaspoon). This mixture helps to cope with the intoxication of the body, which has a favorable effect on overall health and promotes the rapid restoration of liver function.
Plant sorbent
Ingredients :
- oat seeds - 1 glass;
- water - 1 liter.
Preparation, application
- Pour rinsed oats with water at room temperature.
- Insist 12 hours.
- Bring solution to a boil.
- Cook for another 30 minutes at very low heat under a tightly closed lid.
- Wrap the product with a dense cloth and leave for another 12 hours.
- Strain the medicine.
- Drink 0.5 cup of broth for half an hour before meals, 3 times a day.
Diet with liver inflammation
Therapy of the described disease includes the correction of the diet necessary for the discharge of the liver. The basis of the diet is understanding what is hepatitis - the inflammatory process in the gland of external secretion, which violates its work and functions. For this reason, all products that create a load on the liver are excluded from the menu:
- products made of butter and puff pastry;
- fresh and rye bread;
- fatty grades of meat, fish, poultry;
- by-products;
- smoked products;
- caviar;
- canned food;
- pickling;
- sausages;
- marinades;
- eggs;
- animal fats;
- vegetables that cause fermentation in the intestines (garlic, radish, cabbage, sorrel and others);
- mushrooms;
- broths;
- Soups with unprocessed vegetables and cereals;
- all spices;
- salt (very limited);
- acidic and solid fruits;
- berries with grains;
- sweets;
- fatty, sour curd;
- milk;
- cream;
- sharp cheeses;
- leguminous crops;
- pasta;
- crumbly porridge, including millet, barley, barley;
- cocoa;
- alcohol;
- coffee;
- carbonated and cold drinks.
What you can eat with liver inflammation:
- yesterday's white bread, biscuits;
- lean meat, fish, poultry only in the form of minced meat;
- steam protein omelet;
- low-fat dairy and sour-milk products;
- vegetable oil and butter (a little);
- Milk (with water in a 1: 1 ratio) mucous porridge;
- vegetarian soups;
- steamed vegetables, boiled or stewed, shredded;
- ripe and sweet berries, fruits;
- jelly;
- marshmallow;
- kissel;
- pastille;
- broth of dogrose;
- uzvar;
- tea with milk and lemon;
- sweet fruit, berry, tomato juices;
- still water.
Prevention of hepatitis
To warn the examined disease easily, if to adhere to some rules. Knowing what is infectious hepatitis, it is important to comply with hygiene standards, to avoid unprotected sexual acts. It is necessary to check the sterility of instruments for procedures associated with contact with biological fluids. The answer to the question, whether it is possible to catch a hepatitis during a manicure, tattoo and similar procedures, is positive, therefore such manipulations can not be done in unverified places. From some types of viral pathology there are effective vaccines.