Subscribe
28
Zhang Jian Kang
Infectious Disease
About me
Dr. Zhang Jiankang, attending physician, master's degree graduate. Dr. Zhang has a high level of expertise in the clinical diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases. He excels in managing and treating difficult and critically ill infectious diseases, and has extensive clinical experience in the rational use of antibiotics.
Proficient in diseases
Specializes in chronic hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis C, hepatitis cirrhosis, gastrointestinal bleeding, spontaneous peritonitis, hepatic encephalopathy, AIDS, unexplained fever, unexplained liver damage, secondary pulmonary tuberculosis, extra-pulmonary tuberculosis, chickenpox, hand-foot-mouth disease, measles, rubella, etc.
Voices
Viral hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by a virus.
Viral hepatitis refers to liver function damage caused by viruses such as hepatitis A, B, C, D, E, non-A, and non-E, and is a type of infectious hepatitis. This infectious hepatitis is collectively known as viral hepatitis, which mainly manifests as abnormal liver function, elevated transaminases, and abnormal bilirubin levels. To determine the specific cause of viral hepatitis, it is necessary to complete hepatitis antibody tests. Only after clarifying the hepatitis antibody tests can it be determined which virus caused the liver function abnormalities. Therefore, viral hepatitis is a general term that also includes various types and causes. To further clarify, additional testing is required. Only through further testing can the cause be clearly identified for better treatment.
How is viral hepatitis transmitted?
Viral hepatitis comes in many types, with its main pathogens including hepatitis A, B, C, D, E, and others. Each type targets different transmission pathways; for example, hepatitis A and E are primarily transmitted via the digestive tract. They can spread through fecal-oral transmission, and ingesting contaminated food can lead to the dissemination of hepatitis A or E. For hepatitis B, the main transmission routes include mother-to-child transmission, blood and body fluid transmission, and close personal contact can also lead to the transmission of hepatitis B. As for hepatitis C, the primary transmission method is through transfusion of blood or blood products, and patients on dialysis are a high-risk group for hepatitis C infection.
Dietary care for viral hepatitis
Patients with viral hepatitis generally have noticeable gastrointestinal discomfort symptoms, such as fatigue, poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, and bloating after eating. Therefore, it is advisable for patients with viral hepatitis to maintain a low-fat, light diet. Vegetables and fruits are fine to consume, but greasy foods, such as meat, are not recommended. If meat is desired, white meats like fish are preferable, while red meats are advised against. If viral hepatitis is accompanied by other diseases such as hepatic encephalopathy, it is recommended not to consume soy products and eggs. Patients with viral hepatitis often have concurrent gallbladder diseases, so consuming eggs or greasy foods may exacerbate symptoms and cause significant upper abdominal discomfort.
Treatment of viral hepatitis
Once viral hepatitis occurs, the liver function is obviously abnormal. Patients may have significant discomfort symptoms such as fatigue, poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, and bloating after eating. Therefore, the treatment of patients with viral hepatitis mainly consists of two aspects. The first aspect is bed rest combined with a light, low-fat diet. The second aspect is pharmacological treatment. For patients with significantly abnormal liver function, medications that protect the liver and reduce enzyme levels are needed. If significant jaundice occurs, medications to reduce jaundice are required. Additionally, if the viral hepatitis is caused by hepatitis B or C, antiviral medications might be necessary. Only through active antiviral treatment can the damage to the liver by the virus be reduced, and thus better recovery of the patients can be achieved.
The Differences between Chickenpox and Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease
Chickenpox and hand, foot, and mouth disease are common infectious diseases in young children. Chickenpox is a febrile rash disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Its rash mainly manifests as maculopapular, vesicular, and crusted lesions, which appear simultaneously. Generally, these are primarily seen on the face and trunk with a centripetal distribution. Hand, foot, and mouth disease is mainly caused by viruses, such as enterovirus EV71 or Coxsackievirus A16. It causes a febrile rash disease with rashes typically found on the hands, feet, and around the mouth. Rashes on the chest, back, and face are relatively rare. Thus, the main clinical presentations of hand, foot, and mouth disease and chickenpox are the different forms of rashes.
The cause of ascites in viral hepatitis
Generally, viral hepatitis does not lead to ascites, but if viral hepatitis progresses to liver failure, severe hepatitis, or cirrhosis, ascites can occur. The main causes of ascites are related to portal hypertension and sodium and water retention. Additionally, patients with chronic liver diseases often have low albumin levels, leading to hypoalbuminemia, which can also contribute to the development of ascites. Therefore, the presence of ascites in viral hepatitis generally indicates a severe condition, and the outcome after treatment might be poor as ascites can recur. If ascites occurs in viral hepatitis, it is crucial to rule out the presence of cirrhosis. For some patients in the decompensated stage of cirrhosis, the initial symptom might be ascites. Therefore, prompt diagnosis and treatment are necessary once ascites appears in viral hepatitis, requiring further attention.
Typing of Viral Hepatitis
Viral hepatitis mainly includes Hepatitis A, B, C, D, E, etc., among which Hepatitis A and E are acute infections. Generally, there is no long-term damage to the human body after infection; recovery of liver function suffices. Hepatitis B and C infections are prone to becoming chronic, leading to chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C, respectively. These chronic infections can easily lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Among them, the carrier rate of HBsAg in hepatitis B is about 7%, and there are approximately 9.6 million people with hepatitis C in China. Therefore, the incidence rates of hepatitis B and C are relatively high, and if there are abnormalities in liver function, it is crucial to check for these diseases.
Is viral hepatitis serious?
The onset of viral hepatitis is fast or sudden, and it depends on the type of hepatitis. Viral hepatitis can be categorized into acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, liver failure, cholestatic hepatitis, and cirrhotic hepatitis. Acute hepatitis and liver failure typically have a rapid onset, with common pathogens like Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E, which can cause acute hepatitis and may lead to symptoms such as significant fatigue, poor appetite, and dark urine in a short period. However, chronic hepatitis caused by Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, which can even lead to cirrhosis, tends to progress slowly. After infection with the virus, the body may carry the virus for a long time without any symptoms. It may take 10-20 years or even longer for symptoms like fatigue and poor appetite to appear.
Can people with viral hepatitis eat garlic?
During the acute phase of viral hepatitis, liver function is generally significantly abnormal. Patients may experience symptoms such as fatigue, poor appetite, abdominal bloating after eating, and nausea and vomiting. Some may also develop jaundice and yellow urine. For patients with viral hepatitis, it is first recommended to rest in bed. At the same time, a light and low-fat diet should be maintained, and spicy and stimulating foods should be avoided. Therefore, it is not recommended for patients with viral hepatitis to consume spicy and stimulating foods like garlic and chili peppers during the acute phase. It is advisable to eat light foods such as fruits and vegetables. Consuming fatty foods, like pork, lamb, and beef, is also not recommended. Eating these foods may lead to indigestion, and patients may experience significant stomach discomfort.
Can you stay up late with viral hepatitis?
Patients with viral hepatitis should avoid staying up late at night, because the liver rests and detoxifies during night hours. Staying up late might lead to liver function damage. For a healthy individual, staying up late might cause mild liver function abnormalities the following day. Over time, if a patient with viral hepatitis continues to stay up late, their liver function may repeatedly become abnormal. Even if their virus status is negative and they are just carriers, their long-term poor lifestyle habits could lead to the onset of hepatitis. Therefore, it is crucial for patients with viral hepatitis to avoid staying up late and drinking alcohol.