What's hepatitis? Please tell the varieities and their treatments,?

Answer 1

Hepatitis is a serious inflammation of the liver. Viral hepatitis, the most common form, usually appears as type A, B, or C.

Type B (HBV) and Type C (HCV) affect people of all ages. Hepatitis can result from long-term alcohol abuse, infection, or exposure to various chemicals and drugs.

HEPATITIS (A) -

Infectious (viral) hepatitis type A (HAV), is the most common hepatitis, often affecting school children. Good hygiene is necessary to avoid spreading the infection. Epidemics are frequent, as the virus is spread easily through food that is handled by infected individuals, and through water. Therefore, people with hepatitis A should wash their hands very carefully after using the restroom and should not handle food at work. It is contagious during the incubation period of 2-6 weeks but only for a few days once symptoms appear. It typically lasts for 4-8 weeks.

Unlike the other hepatitis types which are seen in all ages equally, hepatitis A in seen mostly in children and young adults. Immunity is life-long following infection. HAV does not become chronic like hepatitis B and C can, does not create a carrier state, and does not lead to chronic liver disease. Often, the disease may be so mild it is unrecognized. The vast majority (99%) of people infected with HAV get rid of the infection on their own, and fatalities are rare.

While there is no specific treatment for HAV (most of the treatments mentioned below are for the other types), supportive care is helpful while you fight the infection. Alcohol should be avoided. Coconut milk, not water, is antiviral and said to help in any hepatitis. Bed rest, lots of water, liver supportive herbs such as milk thistle or dandelion would be appropriate.

HEPATITIS (B)

Hepatitis B (HBV) is usually transmitted by injection of contaminated blood, through intravenous (IV) drug use, or through sexual activity. HBV can be transmitted during pregnancy or childbirth and is a known risk factor for primary liver cancer.

Following an acute infection caused by hepatitis B virus, fewer than 1% of patients develop fulminant hepatitis and die. Some 85-90% experience complete resolution of their physical findings and develop protective levels of antibody; the other 10 to 15% of patients become chronically infected. Of these, 15 to 30% subsequently develop chronic active or persistent hepatitis or cirrhosis, and about 20% of those with cirrhosis will develop liver cancer.

The following are risk factors, which your doctor should know about:

Working in health care, such as in a medical laboratory or in dialysis
Engaging in unsafe/promiscuous unprotected sex
Injecting drugs
Having a poor selenium status
Having a parent, sibling or child infected with hepatitis
Living in or being exposed to unsanitary conditions
Consuming possibly contaminated food or water
Eating or handling raw shellfish
Treatment
Numerous nutritional and herbal treatments are available. Items not mentioned below include:
Desiccated liver - can improve liver regeneration.
Hepatitis Specific Transfer Factors from colostrum were used in 260 cases and a 100% clinical recovery was reported with no side-effects. Immunological profiles were normalized in approximately half of the individuals at the end of the observation period.

HEPATITIS (C)

Hepatitis C (HCV) is spread via blood, most commonly through shared needle use, and may lead to a chronic carrier state. Carriers of hepatitis B and C often do not know that they are infected. Receiving a tattoo can also increase your risk of contracting the infection. HCV infections and other chronic viral infections are associated with a variety of immune system defects leading to effective transmission of the viruses through blood exposure and possibly sexual contact. HCV can be transmitted during pregnancy or childbirth.

Hepatitis C is a serious infection. If you do not make continued efforts at maintaining a significant level of liver health, a chronic degenerative process will take its toll eventually.

Although the disease may be moderate in expression, a carrier state can follow in 10-50% of patients. Infection with Hepatitis B or C often leads to liver failure or liver cancer and is the leading indication for liver transplantation.

Examination of liver tissue under the microscope taken from patients with chronic active HCV infection has revealed the presence of NK cells. Indirect evidence for the importance of high NK cell function in limiting chronic hepatitis C infection was demonstrated by two studies of infected patients treated with alpha interferon. Patients that responded clinically to therapy also demonstrated significantly greater enhancement of NK activity than controls after the initial dose of interferon. NK activity was not improved in those who did not respond to treatment, indicating the importance of NK activity.

There are only limited conventional treatments for HCV: it is a disease that can be greatly benefited by natural therapies. Since the persistence of a virus is due in part to lowered immunity, non-toxic immune enhancers (especially those which stimulate NK cell function) should help to resolve or control the infection.

Several nutrients and herbs have been shown to inhibit viral reproduction, improve immune system function, and greatly stimulate regeneration of the damaged liver cells. A therapeutic approach should focus on both immune system enhancement and liver support.

Unlike other white blood cells, inadequate numbers of NK cells are rarely a problem. Instead, it is the activity of the cells that is important. NK activity can be significantly enhanced by natural products or drugs such as IP6 (Inositol hexaphosphate), MGN3 (a commercial rice bran product modified with mushroom extracts), thymus extracts, low dose Naltrexone, zinc, DHEA, glutamine, a good multiple vitamin-mineral over time and others such as astragalus, cordyceps (chinese fungus), and MCP (modified citrus pectin). NK activity can be impaired by surgery and chemotherapy. Moderate exercise does not depress the immune system, but very strenuous exercise does.

Other treatments that have been beneficial include the use of Vitamin C, liver extracts (which promote hepatic regeneration) and Reishi mushrooms. Licorice root, cysteine and glycine together have produced a 40% cure rate. Silymarin (milk thistle) reverses liver cell damage, increases protein level in the blood, lowers liver enzymes and generally improves symptoms such as abdominal discomfort, decreased appetite and fatigue.

Just a reminder:
If you have a serious medical condition or are taking medication, it's a good idea to talk to your physician before starting a supplement program.

Answer 2

Most patients with acute type C hepatitis have fully recovered after four to eight weeks. Very few patients (1 in 300) develop liver failure in connection with acute hepatitis and subsequently risk dying from the disease. Chronic type C hepatitis can be treated by a combination of interferon alfa injections and ribavirin capsules. Half of the patients will benefit from the treatment.

Answer 3

Hepatitis A: is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Hepatitis A can affect anyone. In the United States, hepatitis A can occur in situations ranging from isolated cases of disease to widespread epidemics.
Hepatitis B: is a serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver. The virus, which is called hepatitis B virus (HBV), can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death.
Hepatitis C: is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is found in the blood of persons who have the disease. HCV is spread by contact with the blood of an infected person.

Hepatitis D: is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis D virus (HDV), a defective virus that needs the hepatitis B virus to exist. Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is found in the blood of persons infected with the virus.
Hepatitis E: is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis E virus (HEV) transmitted in much the same way as hepatitis A virus. Hepatitis E, however, does not occur often in the United States.

Much more, including prevention at the links below.

Answer 4

the answers you seek can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepatitis

Answer 5

here is a site i found. good luck
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/index.htm