Chronic viral hepatitis and cirrhosis
Viral hepatitis is liver infections
caused by viruses. Viruses A, B, C, D and E. It differs
Chronic forms of viral hepatitis B, C
and D may induce liver cirrhosis.
Hepatitis A does not evolve into
cirrhosis, complications are rare and there is no chronic form.
Chronic hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is easily transmitted and
can infect people of all ages. However, the most at risk are young adults and
adolescents. The signs are variable and the disease may progress to serious
complications.
What is hepatitis B?
The hepatitis B or HBV belongs to the
family Hepadnaviridae and is the most common and most deadly viral hepatitis
worldwide.
The incubation period of the virus of
hepatitis B is between 45 to 180 days (60 to 90 days on average for the
duration depends on the severity of the disease).
What are the modes of contamination?
The Hepatitis B is transmitted from
biological fluids and secretions.
Blood: needle sharing in intravenous
drug use, razors, tattoo, piercing, occupational exposure by accidental
needlestick ...
Sex (in semen and vaginal secretions)
vaginal, anal or oral sex
The mother-child transmission is also
possible during childbirth.
How to recognize chronic hepatitis B?
People with the chronic form are much
more likely to have cirrhosis of the liver: the gradual destruction of liver
cells is mainly due to the reactions of the body's natural defense against
viruses. Fibrosis replaces the destroyed cells.
Signs, lasting for several months (more
than 6 months), are often marked by fatigue, fever and yellowing of the skin
and mucous membranes (jaundice).
Treatments
The treatment of hepatitis B is
generally based on lifestyle and dietary rules, particularly the observance of
rest and a healthy diet.
In the chronic form, medication will be
prescribed by the doctor:
Interferons, which are drugs used
against the hepatitis B by increasing the body's defense
The antiviral drugs that act directly
against the virus by limiting their proliferation to slow the progression of
the disease.
Prevention - Vaccination
Prevention against hepatitis B is based
on the fight against transmission modes:
- To use condoms during sexual
intercourse,
- Avoid tattoos and piercings,
- Avoid multiple sex,
- Protect any object contaminated with
blood (needles, bandages, dental son, sanitary towels, ...), materials
toiletries (razor, toothbrush).
A screening test is recommended for
pregnant women, people at risk (people with multiple partners, drug addicts,
....) and those infected with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).
There is a vaccine to protect against
hepatitis B. Vaccination can be achieved in children as young as 2 months (in
combination with other mandatory vaccines), and from birth to a child born of a
surrogate virus hepatitis B.
Chronic Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is an insidious disease and
over 70% of those infected do not know they have the virus.
What is hepatitis C?
Before its discovery in 1989, hepatitis
C or HCV hepatitis was called "non-A, non-B." This is a very
resistant virus and the disease often progresses to chronicity.
The incubation period of hepatitis C is
an average of 15 days to 180 days (6-9 weeks on average)
What are the modes of transmission?
The mode of transmission can be
- By blood (direct contact with the
blood of an infected person)
- From injection equipment during
intravenous drug use, a tattoo or a piercing
- The sexual contamination is rare.
What are the signs of chronic hepatitis
C?
In its chronic form, viral hepatitis C
may have persistent signs for more than 6 months:
- Loss of appetite leading to weight
loss
- Fatigue, fever, sleep disorder
- Abdominal pain, muscle and joint pain
- A yellow coloring of the skin and
mucosa associated itching
- Intestinal symptoms such as nausea,
diarrhea
- Neurological disorders: headaches and
mood swings.
The disease can also be asymptomatic.
Evolution
The chronic form progresses to cirrhosis
within 20 years after infection (10% to 15% of cases).
However, there are aggravating factors
in the progression to cirrhosis:
- Age
- Sex: the complication is faster in men
- Alcohol
Treatments
The chronic form often requires the
combination of interferon (a drug that increases the body's defense) with
antiviral (drug that acts directly against viruses and slows the progression of
the disease). The treatment provides a complete cure in 40-80% of cases.
Side effects are not always met, but
depend on the sensitivity of the individual treatments. However, the use of
these drugs requires specialized medical care.
At present, there is no vaccine to
protect against hepatitis C hence the importance of prevention (transfusion,
unsafe injections, drugs ...)
Hepatitis D
The hepatitis D virus called "delta
agent" is dependent virus B. The contamination is mainly through the
sharing of injection equipment during drug use and is found in high prevalence
in many parts of Africa.
Hepatitis D is mainly characterized by
its aggravation to the onset of cirrhosis and liver cancer.
There is still no vaccine to protect
against hepatitis A, however, the prevention of hepatitis D can be achieved by
vaccination against hepatitis B.
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