$Unique_ID{PAR00098}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Medical Advice:  Hepatitis}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Chasnoff, Ira J}
$Subject{appetite Loss Nausea Vomiting Upper abdominal pain Jaundice yellowed
skin eyes dark amber urine light-colored stools Fever Headache discomfort
gamma globulin hepatitis B immune globulin injections Hepatitis A contaminated
water food shellfish liver infection infectious hepatitis serum hepatitis
virus viruses infectious mononucleosis mouth-to-mouth contact blood
transfusion contaminated needle injection drug addiction tattooing joints
Joint pain rash rashes malaise headache}
$Log{
Hepatitis Transmission*0009801.tif}

Your Child:  A Medical Guide


Hepatitis


     Quick Reference

     SYMPTOMS
     - Loss of appetite
     - Nausea
     - Vomiting
     - Upper abdominal pain
     - Jaundice (characterized by yellowed skin and whites of eyes, dark amber
       urine, and light-colored stools)
     - Fever
     - Headache
     - General discomfort

     HOME CARE
     - Isolate the child, and then call the doctor.
     - When a diagnosis has been made, the doctor will order a home care
       program that includes rest, liquids, and a low-fat diet

     PRECAUTIONS
     - Hepatitis must be diagnosed and treated by a doctor.
     - The child and other family members who have been exposed to hepatitis
       should be given preventive gamma globulin or hepatitis B immune
       globulin injections as soon as possible after exposure.
     - Hepatitis A can be contracted from contaminated water or food, such as
       shellfish.
     - Hepatitis B is contagious.  Isolate the child and practice good health
       habits to limit spread of the disease.
     - A pregnant woman can pass hepatitis B to her unborn baby.


     Hepatitis is an infection of the liver (an organ of the digestive system,
located in the abdominal cavity).  Only recently have two viruses that cause
hepatitis been identified.  Hepatitis A virus causes infectious hepatitis.
Hepatitis B virus causes serum hepatitis.  Another form of hepatitis can occur
as a complication of infectious mononucleosis.  Serious, acute complications
and long-term progressive (continually worsening) liver disease may occur as a
result of hepatitis.
     Hepatitis A is contracted from the stools or blood of a person with the
disease.  The virus is also present in contaminated water and food (for
example, shellfish).  Symptoms may appear within 15 to 45 days after exposure
to the virus.  The patient is contagious from three weeks before the onset of
jaundice until one week after onset.
     Hepatitis B is contracted in one of two ways:  either by close
mouth-to-mouth contact or from the blood of a patient or carrier (someone who
carries the virus without having the disease).  It is usually transmitted by a
blood transfusion or by an injection with a contaminated needle (as in drug
addiction and tattooing).  It can also be passed by a pregnant woman to her
unborn baby.  Symptoms may appear six weeks to six months after exposure to
the virus.  Hepatitis B is contagious during the incubation period (the time
between exposure to the virus and the onset of symptoms), and possibly for
months or years thereafter.  The symptoms are similar to those of hepatitis A,
but often come on more gradually and are milder.  Joint pain and rashes are
often associated with hepatitis B.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

     The first symptoms are fever, malaise (body discomfort), headache, and
sometimes signs of a common cold.  The key symptoms are a marked loss of
appetite (often with nausea, vomiting, and upper abdominal pain) and the onset
of jaundice (characterized by yellowed skin, yellowed whites of the eyes, dark
amber urine, and light-colored stools).  Jaundice lasts two to four weeks,
followed by one to two months of diminishing fatigue.  The liver often is
enlarged and tender.  Specific diagnosis (A type or B type) depends on blood
test results and must be made by a doctor.

HOME CARE

     If symptoms of hepatitis appear, isolate your child to lessen the chance
of spreading the disease.  Then call your doctor.  Hepatitis must be diagnosed
and treated by a doctor.  Your doctor will give you specific instructions for
caring for the child at home and will probably recommend rest, liquids, and a
low-fat diet that is easy to digest.

PRECAUTIONS

  -  If your child has been exposed to hepatitis, call your doctor.  The child
     and other family members should be given preventive gamma globulin or
     hepatitis B immune globulin injections as soon after exposure as is
     practical and before symptoms appear.
  -  If you are caring for a child with hepatitis B, remember that this form
     is now known to be contagious (contrary to past beliefs).  Practice good
     hygiene, particularly careful hand washing, to avoid spreading the
     disease.

MEDICAL TREATMENT

     The doctor may hospitalize your child for treatment.  Tests are also
available to determine when hepatitis B is no longer contagious.

RELATED TOPICS:  Arthritis; G6PD deficiency; Infectious mononucleosis;
Jaundice in children; Jaundice in newborns; Rashes