Protect yourself from Jaundice

Today Hepatitis is a very well known and easily catch-able disease. Most people understand that it's a liver disease caused by virus and can have an effect on persons of all ages. At times there are cases of Hepatitis with only flu-like symptoms. Often misdiagnosed as cold without blood test for hepatitis. Hepatitis may be different types but A and E are more common at this moment in our country. Hepatitis can be treated effectively provided diagnosed timely. Generally, the symptoms and over all treatment depends upon its type. This can be monitored easily through blood test for bilirubin. Treating B and C type Hepatitis is not as easy as Hepatitis A. It needs careful follow-up and may take a longer time to cure. Although all types of Hepatitis are treatable but in some cases Type B, C, and D Hepatitis may develop to chronic Hepatitis.

Risk factors for getting Hepatitis are intimate contact with hepatitis patients, recent travel history, injection, dental surgery, blood transfusion, abnormal sexual behaviour, intake of water and food, using unhealthy washroom, intravenous drug use, and occupation.

We may classify the symptoms of all types in to the following stages-

Stage: 1. No symptoms and signs

Stage: 2. Fever or Flu-like symptoms, decreased appetite, malaise, nausea/vomiting, muscle ache and headache. Sometimes abdominal pain and which could be specifically in the right upper quadrant. Diarrhea may occur in children, while constipation is more common in adults. Dark discoloration of urine will develop. But it is important to know that a patient who appears severely ill is likely to have hepatitis of another cause or an atypical one.

Stage: 3. Jaundice (situation usually characterized by yellowness of eye sclera and skin), itching. Degree of jaundice varies case by case.

.Stage: 4. Difficult to make differential diagnosis of the different types by only clinical symptoms.

Protect yourself by-

-Make a habit to wash your hands before every meal.

-Don't forget to wash your hands with soap after using the toilet.

-Stop eating from unhealthy places.

-Do not use personal care items of infected patient

-Always drink boiled water as far as possible.

-Avoid sexual contact with unknown persons.

-Do not use food or water left by hepatitis infected person.

-Don't forget to ask for fresh disposable syringe for injection.

-Try to receive fresh blood (if needed) from friends, relatives and colleagues .

-Do not donate blood if you are infected.-The best prevention is Hepatitis B vaccination.

-Do not donate blood if you have ever had Hepatitis B or C in your life.

Dr. Rubaiul Murshed: Source: The daily Star: 23-Nov-2004