Showing posts with label liver. Show all posts
Showing posts with label liver. Show all posts

Beyond the Jaundice: A Comprehensive Overview of Viral Hepatitis

Viral Hepatitis: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

Viral hepatitis is a group of inflammatory liver diseases caused by different viruses. These viruses can damage the liver, leading to a range of symptoms and complications.

Types of Viral Hepatitis:

There are five main types of viral hepatitis:
  • Hepatitis A: Transmitted through contaminated food or water.
  • Hepatitis B: Transmitted through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids.
  • Hepatitis C: Transmitted through contact with infected blood.
  • Hepatitis D: Requires hepatitis B infection to occur.
  • Hepatitis E: Transmitted through contaminated food or water.

Causes:

  • Hepatitis A: Consuming contaminated food or water.
  • Hepatitis B: Exposure to infected blood or bodily fluids, such as through unprotected sex or sharing needles.
  • Hepatitis C: Exposure to infected blood, primarily through sharing needles or other injection equipment.
  • Hepatitis D: Co-infection with hepatitis B.
  • Hepatitis E: Consuming contaminated food or water.

Symptoms:

Symptoms of viral hepatitis can vary depending on the type of virus and the severity of the infection. Common symptoms include:
  • Fatigue.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Abdominal pain.
  • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).
  • Dark urine.
  • Light-colored stools.
  • Fever.

Treatment:

Treatment for viral hepatitis depends on the type of virus and the severity of the infection. In some cases, the body can naturally fight off the virus. However, for other types of hepatitis, medical treatment may be necessary.
  • Hepatitis A: Most cases of hepatitis A resolve on their own. However, supportive care may be needed to manage symptoms.
  • Hepatitis B: There are antiviral medications available to treat chronic hepatitis B infection.
  • Hepatitis C: There are highly effective antiviral medications available to cure hepatitis C infection.
  • Hepatitis D: There is no specific treatment for hepatitis D. Treatment focuses on managing the underlying hepatitis B infection.
  • Hepatitis E: Most cases of hepatitis E resolve on their own. However, supportive care may be needed to manage symptoms.

Prevention:

Vaccination is available for hepatitis A, B, and E. Avoiding contaminated food and water, practicing safe sex, and not sharing needles or other injection equipment can also help prevent viral hepatitis.

It's important to consult with a healthcare professional if you experience symptoms of viral hepatitis. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent serious complications.

The Liver and the Diaphragm: A Dance of Breathingbetween inhalation and exhalation

Anatomy of the liver:

You're absolutely right! The liver, nestled under the diaphragm, plays a fascinating role in the rhythmic rise and fall of our breath. Let's delve into the anatomy and this dynamic relationship:

The Liver:

Located in the upper right abdomen, the liver is the largest internal organ and a powerhouse for our body.
It has two main surfaces:

Diaphragmatic surface:

- Smooth and convex, fitting snugly under the diaphragm.

- Visceral surface:

Houses vital structures like the gallbladder and blood vessels.
The liver performs numerous critical functions, including:
  • Filtering and detoxifying blood
  • Producing bile for digestion
  • Storing nutrients and energy
  • Regulating blood sugar levels

The Diaphragm:

  • This dome-shaped muscle acts as the main muscle of respiration.
  • It separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity and plays a crucial role in breathing by:

- Contracting during inhalation:

Flattens and descends, enlarging the chest cavity and drawing air into the lungs.

- Relaxing during exhalation:

Rises back to its dome shape, pushing air out of the lungs.

The Liver and Diaphragm in Action:

  • As the diaphragm contracts for inspiration, it presses down on the liver, causing it to descend slightly.
  • This gentle downward movement doesn't significantly impact the liver's function but allows for the lungs to expand fully during inhalation.
  • Conversely, during exhalation, the diaphragm relaxes and rises, allowing the liver to return to its resting position.
  • This harmonious interplay ensures efficient breathing while protecting the delicate liver from excessive pressure changes.

Additional Interesting Facts:

  • The right dome of the diaphragm usually sits slightly higher than the left due to the liver's position on that side.
  • Some individuals with severe diaphragmatic dysfunction may experience liver pain due to the lack of normal movement and pressure changes.

In conclusion, the liver and diaphragm are two vital organs that work together in a beautiful dance to keep us breathing and functioning optimally. Understanding this intricate relationship can give us a deeper appreciation for the amazing complexity of the human body.

Ways the spread of hepatitis C.. Body secretions. Re-use of hypodermic needles among people, tattoos, piercing parts of the body using contaminated tools. Sexual contact

Ways the spread of hepatitis C

Transmitted through body secretions and therefore the re-use of hypodermic needles among people, tattoos, piercing parts of the body using contaminated tools all lead to infection with chronic inflammation.

There are also some scientific evidence on the transmission of the virus through sexual contact, but considered this medium rare and is considered one of the important means for the spread of the virus C , Also the transmission of the virus from mother to her children is MACD at the moment does not happen as the hepatitis B virus.

How do you stop tattoo ink from spreading?

Stand with your tattoo away from the water when washing your whole body in the shower to avoid soaking your tattoo. Avoid baths or soaking of any kind for a few weeks. Make sure your tattoo is fully dry before you apply ointment or lotion. Avoid applying too much ointment or lotion.

What is the main cause of Hep C?

Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis C is spread through contact with blood from an infected person. Today, most people become infected with the hepatitis C virus by sharing needles or other equipment used to prepare and inject drugs.

Can you get hepatitis from piercing?

Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus. And research shows that people who have body piercings have an increased risk of the infection.

How common is Hep C from tattoos?

To date, there is no definitive evidence that HCV infection occurs through tattooing when sterile material is used.

Can you get hepatitis from a needle stick?

While there is a risk for HBV infection from exposures of mucous membranes or nonintact skin, there is no known risk for HBV infection from exposure to intact skin. The average risk for infection after a needlestick or cut exposure to HCV- infected blood is approximately 1.8%.

Can hepatitis be transmitted through tattoos?

As hepatitis B is spread by direct blood contact, getting a tattoo poses a risk of infection if the equipment is not single use has not been properly sanitized, preferably using an autoclave.

How do you get hep C from needles?

Injecting yourself with just one contaminated needle may be enough to become infected. It's also possible to get the infection by sharing other equipment used to prepare or take drugs – such as spoons, filters, pipes and straws – that have been contaminated with infected blood.

Can you get hep C from tattoo needles?

You can get hep C from tattoo ink if the tattoo artist doesn't use small separate containers of tattoo ink for each client. If they dip the needle into one big container that they've used on other clients, there is a high risk of blood (from a past client) coming into contact with your blood.

Blood tests for liver.. Measuring some chemicals secreted by the liver. A blood clotting factor

Blood tests for liver

  • To measure some chemicals secreted by the liver.
  • To determine the ability of liver function by measuring Albumin and total serum protein as a type of protein albumin and liver disease reduces its level in the blood.
  • For measuring blood clotting time prothrombin time to get acquainted with a blood clotting factor produced by the liver .
  • To measure Bilirubin blood produced when they break down hemoglobin. Which is the red material and red blood cells that carry oxygen. And cirrhosis of the liver may raise an average of blood.
  • There are tests of blood to identify the causes of cirrhosis, including antibodies as a test :. ANA, (AMA) ,(ASMA). A microscopic samples to identify the cirrhosis or liver tumors .

What removes toxins from the liver?

The liver filters toxins through the sinusoid channels, which are lined with immune cells called Kupffer cells. These engulf the toxin, digest it and excrete it. This process is called phagocytosis.

What is blood clot in liver called?

Hepatic vein thrombosis (HVT) is an obstruction in the hepatic veins of the liver caused by a blood clot. This condition blocks the drainage system of your liver, impeding blood flow back to your heart.

Does liver damage affect blood clotting?

Liver disease affects many organ systems including the hematological system responsible for bleeding and clotting. The high rate of hemorrhage has been previously recognized; however, the increased risk for thrombosis is only more recently being appreciated.

What are the 4 clotting factors?

Clotting factors involved in the intrinsic pathway include factors XII, XI, IX, and VIII. Clotting factors involved in the extrinsic pathway include factors VII, and III.

What causes high ALT and AST enzymes?

Chronic alcohol consumption, drugs, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and chronic viral hepatitis are common causes associated with raised ALT and AST. In chronic viral hepatitis, the elevation of liver enzyme may not correlate well with the degree of liver damage.

What level of AST indicates liver damage?

A normal AST:ALT ratio should be <1. In patients with alcoholic liver disease, the AST:ALT ratio is >1 in 92% of patients, and >2 in 70%. AST:ALT scores >2 are, therefore, strongly suggestive of alcoholic liver disease and scores <1 more suggestive of NAFLD/NASH.

What is the difference between AST and ALT liver enzymes?

ALT and AST are abundant liver enzymes. ALT is in the highest concentration in the liver, AST is also present in heart, muscle, kidney, brain, pancreas, lung. ALP is present in nearly all tissues, primarily bone and liver.

What are the 4 warning signs of a damaged liver?

yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice) swelling in the legs, ankles and feet caused by a build-up of fluid (oedema) swelling in your abdomen caused by a build-up of fluid known as ascites. a high temperature and shivering attacks.

Why does my blood test show liver problems?

Elevated liver enzymes may be a sign that a person's liver is not working properly. Damaged or inflamed liver cells release enzymes into the bloodstream, which a blood test will detect. Doctors test people for elevated liver enzymes if they have symptoms of conditions that typically cause liver damage.

What can affect a liver test?

Your liver function tests can be abnormal because: Your liver is inflamed (for example, by infection, toxic substances like alcohol and some medicines, or by an immune condition). Your liver cells have been damaged (for example, by toxic substances, such as alcohol, paracetamol, poisons).

What causes liver damage?

Liver disease can be inherited (genetic). Liver problems can also be caused by a variety of factors that damage the liver, such as viruses, alcohol use and obesity.

Can your liver repair itself?

The liver is very resilient and capable of regenerating itself. Each time your liver filters alcohol, some of the liver cells die. The liver can develop new cells, but prolonged alcohol misuse (drinking too much) over many years can reduce its ability to regenerate.

What are the three clotting factors?

The following are coagulation factors and their common names: Factor I - fibrinogen. Factor II - prothrombin. Factor III - tissue thromboplastin (tissue factor)

What is the most important clotting factor?

Fibrinogen, the penultimate step in the generation of clots, is the target of the common pathway, being changed by thrombin into fibrin; finally, fibrin is consolidated by factor XIII to generate a stable clot, essential for achieving hemostasis through clotting.

What deficiency causes clotting problems?

What is Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding or VKDB? Vitamin K deficiency bleeding or VKDB, occurs when babies cannot stop bleeding because their blood does not have enough Vitamin K to form a clot.

What clotting factors make liver?

Within the liver, hepatocytes are involved in the synthesis of most blood coagulation factors, such as fibrinogen, prothrombin, factor V, VII, IX, X, XI, XII, as well as protein C and S, and antithrombin, whereas liver sinusoidal endothelial cells produce factor VIII and von Willebrand factor.

How can I test if my liver is healthy?

A liver blood test measures the levels of various things in your blood, like proteins, liver enzymes, and bilirubin. This can help check the health of your liver and for signs of inflammation or damage. Your liver can be affected by: liver infections — like hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Can a blood test detect liver damage?

Blood tests


A low level of serum albumin suggests your liver is not functioning properly. A blood test may also look for signs of abnormal blood clotting, which can indicate significant liver damage.

What is the name of liver test?

Usually, your liver cleans bilirubin out of your body. If you have high levels in your blood, a problem called jaundice, you may have liver damage. Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) test. High levels of the GGT enzyme could point to liver or bile duct damage.


What is ALT and AST blood test?

ALT stands for alanine transaminase, which is another type of liver enzyme. If you have high levels of AST and/or ALT, it may mean that you have some type of liver damage. You may also have an AST test as part of a group of liver function tests that measure ALT, and other enzymes, proteins, and substances in the liver.

What is the blood test for fatty liver?

Fatty liver is most commonly diagnosed by a routine liver function test drawn from your blood. The alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is a specific marker for liver inflammation and is typically elevated in individuals with a fatty liver.

What is the best liver function test?

Alanine transaminase (ALT) test.


This is an enzyme found mostly in the liver that is released into the bloodstream after acute liver cell damage. This test may be performed to assess liver function, and/or to evaluate treatment of acute liver disease, such as hepatitis.

What organ causes clotting factors?

The liver

Bleeding within the body activates a complex system of plasma proteins, called coagulation factors, which promote blood clot formation. The liver is responsible for producing most of these coagulation factors.

What is the name of blood clotting factor?

Clotting factors have names, such as fibrinogen and prothrombin. Each clotting factor also has a Roman numeral name, such as "clotting factor II."

Does the liver have clotting factors?

The liver has a pivotal role in hemostasis by synthesizing all clotting factors except von Willebrand factor (VWF) and natural anticoagulants, as well as several fibrinolytic proteins.

What is LFT blood test used for?

Liver function tests (also called LFTs) are blood tests that can provide information about how the liver is working. They test the levels of a number of proteins and enzymes that are either produced by liver cells or released into the blood when liver cells are damaged.

Hepatic hepatitis .. Chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis or cancer of the liver and gallstones .. Eradication and removal of gravel and gallbladder

Hepatitis C infections are caused by multiple viruses or as a result of hepatitis, where nearly five million people in the United States are infected with hepatitis, which usually leads to chronic hepatitis, fibrosis or liver cancer. Many people (15%) develop gallstones and about half of these patients develop severe pain in the upper abdomen requiring treatment, which usually involves the removal and removal of gallstones and gallstones.

How to transmit hepatitis B virus. Transfusion of contaminated blood. Exposure to body secretions. Needle injections among drug addicts. Sexual intercourse

Across several different ways, not through food, where it is transmitted, for example, by transfusion of contaminated blood, or exposure to secretions of the body. And that the virus is certainly present in all the different secretions of the body. As a result, the virus travels among drug addicts who share needles, as well as in people after tattooing or puncturing parts of the body with contaminated and non-sterilized instruments.
Sexual intercourse is another pathway for transmission of hepatitis B, and HIV-positive mothers transmit the virus to newborns. The specialist examines all pregnant women to ensure they are free of HIV and treat postpartum children of HIV-positive mothers.

How the spread of hepatitis A The virus is intensely present in the stool. Do not take care of cleanliness after using the bathroom and not washing hands

This virus is a childhood disease and is transmitted from person to person. The virus is highly concentrated in the faeces, so the lack of care for cleanliness after use of the bathroom and the lack of good hand washing causes the transmission of this virus from one person to another. Also preparing the food by infected people, the virus is transmitted in different foods and it is normal to spread the epidemic in the nursery.

Hepatitis D. Severe and broken liver inflammation. Causes liver inflammation only in patients with hepatitis B

This virus is strange because it causes hepatic inflammation only in patients with hepatitis B. Thus, it is possible to say that the virus D is infected with the B virus. The chronic and probable B inflammation can turn into severe and broken inflammation of the liver due to inflammation.
  The three infections G, F, E are rare infections in patients.

Hepatitis S. is not exposed to little resistance from the immune system in the patient

Occurs in the majority of patients in youth, and this type of inflammation is different from Hepatitis B because it does not suffer a little resistance from the immune system in the patient and therefore the disease becomes chronic in the vast majority of patients. In fact, 85% of patients who have been exposed to hepatitis C will be chronically ill.

Viruses that infect the liver .. Severe inflammation may not turn into a chronic inflammation at all

From the study of the history of these viruses, we find some important differences between these infections.
For example, the most common infections are hepatitis A, which causes liver inflammation and causes severe inflammation, but does not become a chronic inflammation.
 Therefore, people who are infected can feel the symptoms of acute hepatitis for a few days or weeks, but when they recover, the patient heals completely and does not remain any side effects or chronic injury in the liver.
Note that in rare cases the patient's condition deteriorates during the severity of the infection to the extent that it leads to death (or that the patient needs a liver transplant quickly.

Hepatitis B. Most patients recover completely without any side effects

In 95% of the patients, the patient will recover completely and without any side effects.
The minority remains 5%. The infection lasts longer than 6 months and becomes chronic inflammation. As for children, the vast majority of them become chronically infected.
For example, when children are infected in their early years, 90% of them become chronically ill.
At the global level, children are most vulnerable to this type of infection as the virus is transmitted by the mother during the development process.

Long-term complications of chronic liver infections.. Chronic liver cirrhosis. Cancerous spread outside the liver, such as the intestine

In the beginning, we can say that many of the patients with hepatitis C And B Chronic and who did not handle or those who did not respond to drugs, they are living a normal life and not suffering from any serious complications. In cases of continued inflammation for a period ranging more than 20 years old or more, it is likely symptoms of depression and liver function, as this type of inflammation cause asbestosis, a chronic liver, leading to the deterioration of its functions and sometimes lead to death if not transplant new.
The majority of liver cancers are caused by the spread of cancerous from outside the liver, such as the intestines and other. As some liver cancers consist of cells of the liver. This Cancers called primary liver Cancers, and this type of cancer is often accompanied by hepatitis C Or B In 70% of cases.

Hepatitis Viral Hepatitis.. Inflammatory and laceration cells. Alcohol. Paracetamol. Poisons, pesticides and fungicides

A common disease caused by many viruses attack the liver, causing inflammation and laceration cells.There are reasons other than viruses lead to hepatitis, such as alcohol intake, and some medicines Such as paracetamol, and some toxins, pesticides and fungi.
** Virus: a virus is excreted in feces and enters the body of the stool to mouth through food  Or contaminated water.
** Virus: more viruses cause in causing liver cancer. It is present in all body fluids and secretions "blood, saliva, tears, urine, semen." And can be transmitted blood transfusion and blood products from mouth to mouth and sexual بالمخالطة and use of contaminated syringes, tattoos and ear piercing, acupuncture, and dental treatment, and when addicts can also be transmitted from a pregnant mother to the virus to the baby.
** C virus: one of the most dangerous viruses liver, and the number one cause of chronic hepatitis. The infection is mainly the transfer of contaminated blood and blood products, and the use of contaminated syringes when addicts infected organ donation. The fact that a pandemic virus C Infects about 10% of Saudi Arabia And 25% of the population Egypt.  
Virus ** d: This virus does not attack only people who carry the virus.
** Virus IE: much like a virus, where infection transmitted through food and drink contaminated.
** Virus Ji: liver disease associated with acute and chronic, which is transmitted through blood and blood products.

Prevention of hepatic viruses.. Avoid using syringes more than once. Careful in blood transfusions. Administration of the vaccine virus shield

* Avoid using syringes more than once, using syringes time.
** Very careful in blood transfusions to examine the volunteer may be the volunteer carrying the virus.
** Give preventive vaccine virus to the more vulnerable to infection, such as children newly born to a mother carrying the virus, and doctors in contact with people living with HIV, Such as a spouse or wife and children, and patients who require treatment repeated blood transfusions, such as in patients with haemophilia - Hemophilia - or renal failure patients.

Viral hepatitis.. Acute liver failure leading to coma and death. Cirrhosis and liver tissue damage

Is a disease caused by micro-organisms that transmit Virus water of which 10% viral hepatitis A. 50% of viruses that can not be Identify them. And viral hepatitis viral hepatitis infects the body Jaundice jaundice (yellowing of the skin), especially in children. There are four types Of hepatitis are (A, B, C and D). And only two types passed down Sexual contact are A and B and the common cause of death hepatic pathological viruses Hepatic failureSharp leading to coma and death. But in children may be less severe, but may be born later Fibrosis Qaibdia And liver tissue damage or liver failure. There is no special treatment for hepatitis Viral. When the liver is infected with the Hepatitis viral viral hepatitis die The infected cells are killed and frequent bleeding (for lack of secretion of the liver to factors Thrombosis (Clotting factors and jaundicejaundice (dye body painted Alocefrkulh rid of Baruben material bilirubin) and increased enzymes damaged liver cells. And hepatitis A move by Mlamsma feces and urine and saliva of the patient. The hepatitis virus B [HBV] moves from blood transfusions .
Depends in diagnosing viral hepatitis A medical history and physical examination, and laboratory analysis of the blood to look for antibodies to the virus (a)
People who have been exposed to infection with hepatitis "A": -
Everyone exposed to infection with hepatitis - a -, but there are groups of people is more likely than others to injury and these are:
**   People infected Almkhalton B Hepatitis (a)
**   Children in preschools and day care centers
**   Men practitioners of Sacred sex (sodomy)
**   Travelers to endemic areas

Treatment of hepatitis.. Bed rest and the work of some medical tests. Follow-up and lab analysis

Treatment depends on the quality of the virus that causes inflammation and whether the situation acute or chronic. , Acute patient needs to bed rest and the work of some medical tests and often patient recovering fully.
In cases of chronic viral infections such as C, B They need to follow up and lab analysis and sometimes liver biopsy until the doctor if the patient needs special treatments.

Prevention of hepatitis C.. Non-use of contaminated instruments such as needles, tattoos, body piercings with unclean tools. Not cohabiting people living with this disease

Still a problem for doctors where there is no special vaccination him at the moment and we hope in the next few years the production of this important bait which will save a lot of people from this important infection.
It is possible to reduce the chances of contracting the virus through non-use of contaminated instruments such as needles, tattoos, body piercings with unclean tools as well as non-cohabiting people living with this disease.

Prevention of hepatitis B.. Early screening during pregnancy. Vaccinated children. Avoid multiple sexual contacts is safe

The disease can be totally avoided, by screening early in pregnancy, and child immunization against this infection, as well as the people who connect sexually more than one partner or partner carries hepatitis B disease. 
It is clear that viral hepatitis is one of the important diseases that infect the liver and the only way to curb the spread of these diseases is the culture of society in ways that protection, and prevention of these diseases as well as there are at the moment a group of drugs used in the treatment of these diseases, and to varying degrees of success.