Beware of Hepatitis

In medical language, Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. The cause of this inflammation can range from viruses, chemicals, drugs, alcohol. Some types of viral hepatitis are available, namely A, B, C, D, E and G.

To learn about this disease, doctors Battalion 2nd Marines Health, Dr. I Made Budi Wirawan gives his presentation.

Of all types of this virus, hepatitis B and C virus is a cause of chronic liver inflammation (chronic) and may end in liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and death. Unlike hepatitis A and B, hepatitis C has no vaccine.

It is estimated there are about 30 million people with hepatitis B and C in Indonesia, and half of these patients has the potential to develop into a chronic liver disease and needed a liver transplant. Moreover, Indonesia was the third country with the highest hepatitis patients after China and India.

Hepatitis virus attacks the cells in the liver and heart as a place to grow biak.Ketika This virus attacks the body by sending lymphocytes (a type of white blood cells) to the liver, inflammation occurs. Inflammation is a normal response to infection.

However, if it continues, the chemicals released lymphocytes cause damage to liver cells. When liver cells are damaged, it can not function and die.

Some of these liver cells can grow back, but the severe destruction that can result in fibrosis (scarring of the liver). Fibrosis causes the decline of all liver functions.

If passed, will harden and scar tissue replace most of the normal liver. This condition is called cirrhosis, the medical term for hardening of the liver. When a person has cirrhosis, this means that most of the heart is broken and not working normally.

Cirrhosis can be very dangerous if not handled properly and could not be detected until many years. Most people infected with hepatitis have no symptoms, called the silent disease.

In fact, if not the right way, about 15-20 years can lead to serious liver diseases like cirrhosis and liver cancer. Most people with hepatitis just knew he was infected during a medical examination (medical check-ups) or when going to the blood donor. Some of the signs that can occur when someone has a liver disease, namely:

- Fever may be accompanied by chills.

- Dark yellow urine, such as tea. Irregular bowel movements, usually not every day.

- Experienced kulit.Kulit and eye color changes so often called yellow jaundice.

- Loss of appetite that causes weight can menurun.Pasien anemia and often sick. Stomach bloating, full gas, indigestion and comes after the meal.

- Abdominal pain right upper abdomen look bloated. This is due to swelling in the lower right rib which is a common complaint from the heart of the patient. It can be heavy pressure on the membrane that are sometimes ill, while breathing. Infection with hepatitis B and C can be transmitted through blood and body fluids such as semen, vaginal fluid or saliva. Transmission via:

-Sexual intercourse with patients with hepatitis B or C with no safety net.

- Contact with the blood of patients with hepatitis B or C, eg through needles (addict), shaving equipment, toothbrushes, clothing influenced by the blood, acupuncture tool, manicure tools, nail clippers, body piercing or tattoo equipment (piercing) are not sterile blood transfusion without the rigorous screening.

- Of the patients with hepatitis B mothers to their babies in utero or when the baby is born. But not to worry about, hepatitis B and C is not spread by sneezing, coughing, hugging or hand in hand.

Here are some ways to protect themselves against infection with hepatitis B and C, namely:

- Check the sterile needles used for ear piercing or other body parts, tattoos, acupuncture, or electro dialysis.

- Avoid sharing needles with others.

- Avoid using the joint / alternative nail clippers, razors, toothbrushes and other objects that may contact with blood.

- Perform periodic checks against hepatitis B and C when men with a high risk, say health care or not an organ transplant, blood transfusion, sharing needles, unprotected sex, and others. But if your heart is damaged, there are several ways to keep heart destruction not to pursue. Do you need immediate medical or health professional about your condition really is. In general, the following steps will help you:

-Avoid alcohol and all types of foods or drugs that are toxic to the liver. Heart to consider alcohol as a toxic liver filter and discard. When a person infected with hepatitis C, alcohol can significantly increase the destruction of the liver. Avoid alcohol in combination with paracetamol (painkillers are sold freely on the market). If you let him in the same time, it can worsen the destruction of the liver.

- Eat healthy foods. When your liver is damaged, the body will not have the nutrients dibutuhkan.Anda will feel tired or weak. You will also lose their appetite. Therefore it is important to the daily intake of nutrients that you need to maintain weight and energy level should be maintained.

- Drink plenty of water. Water is an important element affecting the functioning of the body. Water helps remove toxins and help make the process of absorption of essential nutrients. Drinking water in the required quantity can also help eliminate side effects during treatment or therapy. However, please also note if you have cirrhosis, a reduction of fluid should be done when your body contains too much liquid.

- Reduce salt in your diet Anda.Ketika liver disease is severe, the kidneys respond to salt and water level. Salt acts as a sponge absorbs water. This leads to accumulation of fluid in the body. Less salt in your diet and limit the amount of fluid enters the body, can help the accumulation of fluid in the body.

- be vaccinated against hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Ko hepatitis C infection to occur with other forms of hepatitis can cause liver damage worse. Although there is no vaccine for hepatitis C, hepatitis C virus vaccination of hepatitis A and hepatitis B prevention can be done. Consult your doctor about this vaccination measures. Although hepatitis B and C can lead to scarring and inflammation of the liver, the right treatment to help the inflammation that occurs.

Meanwhile, in serious cases, the need for a liver transplant, Indonesia still faces several obstacles. In Indonesia, the current methods of early detection of hepatitis are relatively inexpensive, known as hepatitis rapid screening test that proved susceptible to the hepatitis C virus (HCV = hepatitis C virus) and hepatitis B virus (HBV). If a person who was positively diagnosed using this tool, then the officer can prevent transmission to others around him through vaccinations for hepatitis.

With early detection and treatment, and preventive measures, then the expected number of patients with hepatitis and may reduce the occurrence of liver cirrhosis or liver cancer, and of course the cost of treatment to reduce.