Alcoholic Hepatitis: Symptoms and Treatment

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Alcoholic hepatitis refers to degenerative changes, inflammatory processes that begin in the liver due to the long use of alcohol. This disease is the most common in the list of alcoholic liver diseases, despite the fact that the WHO recognized it only recently, in 1995.One should be aware of the symptoms and treatment of alcoholic hepatitis, which can lead to serious consequences without timely assistance.

Alcoholic hepatitis - it's

Alcoholic liver hepatitis is a disease that takes a long time to develop. The main factor in the emergence of this form of hepatitis is alcohol abuse, while its variety does not matter, the negative changes in the liver are affected solely by dosages and frequency. Toxic substances, produced in the process of alcohol processing by the body, literally poison and destroy the human liver.

This disease becomes one of the main causes of liver cirrhosis, which can lead to death. Developed alcoholic hepatitis always leads to severe consequences, even after the end of treatment the patient has to change his way of life forever.

There are two main forms of alcoholic hepatitis according to the nature of the disease:

1. Persistent form. At this stage, the symptoms of the disease is not observed, it proceeds fairly easily and is not dangerous. However, if the persistent form does not stop drinking alcohol, it will quickly move into a progressive one. If the intake of alcohol completely stops on time, treatment begins, that is, the chance to completely recover from the disease.
2. Progressive form. In her disease passes, if the persistent did not receive timely assistance. It is characterized by focal liver damage, which often turns into cirrhosis. This form of the disease is diagnosed less often than persistent.

With a progressive form, the symptoms of the disease are much more pronounced. However, both forms can be quite dangerous if measures have not been taken in time.

There are two forms of the disease, both can be extremely dangerous for a person:

1. Acute alcoholic hepatitis. It occurs much more often, most cases of prolonged alcohol abuse lead to this form of the disease. Symptoms manifest themselves quickly, the disease itself is rapidly developing. In some cases, the manifestation of acute hepatitis occurs against the background of already developed cirrhosis, which worsens the course of the disease. In acute form it is important to help the patient as soon as possible.
2. Chronic hepatitis. It is not so active, it is often difficult to identify if the hepatologist is not aware of the patient's lifestyle. To make a diagnosis it is important to know about alcohol dependence in a patient.

In any case, when identifying the signs of alcoholic hepatitis it is important to use the criteria of alcohol dependence, it is important in further treatment to get rid of alcoholic hepatitis, the patient will have to change the way of life.

Important! Often that the treatment of alcoholic hepatitis was the most effective, support and help of close sick person is required.

Hepatitis C and alcohol

It is also worth saying a few words about the effect of alcohol on the liver with developed hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is a viral disease that is transmitted mainly through the blood. The virus causes changes in the liver that are dangerous for the body. It is proved that when alcohol is used against hepatitis C, the probability of developing dangerous complications increases many times.

With this type of viral infection, you should go on a diet and avoid alcohol. Depending on the extent of the lesion due to the virus, you may have to follow a diet and abstain from alcoholic drinks for the rest of your life. Taking alcohol against hepatitis C increases the risk of cirrhosis, which can lead to death.

Reasons for

Alcoholic toxic hepatitis has one cause - alcohol abuse. For the development of the disease a person must consume alcohol for 5-10 years on a regular basis, the rate of disease occurrence depends on the quantity and quality of alcohol. Usually people with alcoholic hepatitis already have a diagnosis of "alcohol dependence".

Alcohol has a negative effect on the liver because most of it is split in this organ. Large doses of alcohol have too much strain on the liver, which leads to a violation of its normal functioning. It is also worth noting that in women, the body's ability to produce the necessary enzymes to break down the products that make up alcohol is lower.

Important! Even in people without severe alcohol dependence, prolonged use of alcohol can provoke degenerative changes in the liver.

Symptoms of

Symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis depend on the stage and form of the disease. In almost all cases, it begins with a persistent form, which is not as noticeable as the subsequent ones. At the very beginning of the disease the patient can notice a slight malaise, heaviness in the right hypochondrium, eructation, mild nausea and a feeling of discomfort in the stomach.

That's why the very beginning of alcoholic hepatitis is often overlooked. The patient often does not pay attention to the initial symptoms, the persistent form can be identified only during the examination.

With the transition to a progressive form, the patient's condition deteriorates sharply. All the symptoms of eating disorders are manifest, and jaundice may occur. If the patient is not helped at this stage, cirrhosis can be fatal. Acute alcoholic hepatitis

Acute alcoholic hepatitis is most pronounced. If you have the following symptoms, you should see your doctor as soon as possible, with rapid deterioration of the condition, you should call an ambulance:

• the occurrence of jaundice - yellowing of the skin and eyes;
• severe weakness, chills, pain in the right hypochondrium;
• nausea, vomiting, stool disorders;
• in some cases there is skin itching.

Against the background of acute alcoholic hepatitis, various bacterial infections often occur, for example, pneumonia or various types of peritonitis. It should be noted that the emergence of bacterial infection and other complications against the background of acute disease can lead to death.

Chronic alcoholic hepatitis

This form is rarely noticeable, it is extremely difficult to make a correct diagnosis. Usually they look at the change in the state of the liver and the level of transmiases in the blood, with hepatitis it is elevated.

In general, with the chronic form of the disease, there are constantly problems with digestion, sleep disorders, men can develop gynecomastia or hypogonadism. Any of these disorders should be referred to a doctor.

Complications of

The main complication of alcoholic hepatitis is cirrhosis of the liver, which can eventually lead to death if the disease was started. In general, various violations of liver function are possible, which in severe cases are not always restored to the end after treatment.

Also to complications it is possible to carry bacterial infections which very often arise against hepatitis. They can significantly worsen the course of the disease.

Forecast

With timely treatment begun, the prognosis is favorable, in some particularly successful cases it was possible to completely restore the function of the liver. However, even after the end of treatment, alcohol consumption will no longer be possible.

Also the success of therapy depends on the patient himself and the desire to recover. Any treatment will be in vain if the patient does not follow a strict diet and listen to all the recommendations of the doctor.

Treatment of alcoholic hepatitis

Often the treatment of this disease begins with getting into the intensive care unit, so the state of the patient can be so serious and deadly dangerous. In general, the treatment plan depends on the stage of the disease, the concomitant diagnoses and the features of the course of the disease.

Treatment in hospital is more often recommended, then after removal of the main symptoms and the inflammatory process can be a transfer to home treatment. At home, it is important to ensure that the patient does not return to alcoholic beverages, otherwise the disease will return.

In general, the treatment scheme consists of several mandatory items, only complex therapy can achieve the most noticeable positive result. First of all, the receipt of special drugs - hepatoprotectors, which allow to restore the function of the liver, neutralize toxins. They are divided into several groups:

• preparations based on a medicinal plant of milk thistle;
• on the basis of a substance - ademethionine;
• from bear bile;
• preparations based on products of animal origin;
• based on essential phospholipids.

All groups of drugs are similar in effect, the most suitable medicine is selected by the attending physician. In addition to hepatoprotectors, agents against bacterial infections can be used, with strong alcohol poisoning, droppers are placed with drugs that help to neutralize intoxications and avoid dehydration and starvation of the organism.

Important! In the most dangerous neglected cases, surgical intervention can be indicated.

Diet

Diet is one of the most important aspects of treatment for hepatitis. To take medication was most effective, you should adhere to certain rules of nutrition, just to exclude alcohol is not enough.

Usually, this disease uses diet number 5, which is extremely effective for various diseases of the liver and gastrointestinal tract as a whole. In general, the diet should adhere to the following dietary rules:

• dishes can not be fried, you can bake, cook and cook steamed;
• restricts the consumption of fatty foods, animal products;
• inadmissible too acute and acidic foods, food that has choleretic effect;
• the basis of the diet should be fresh fruits and vegetables;
• should be eaten in small portions, preferably up to 5 - 6 times a day.

Diet can vary depending on the presence of concomitant diseases and their nature. In some cases, such a strict diet has to adhere to a lifetime even after full recovery.

Treatment with folk remedies

At home, after taking off the acute form, it is permissible to use a number of folk remedies to improve liver function, speedy recovery. It is worth remembering that folk remedies will not help get rid of the disease itself, only to make the treatment more effective.

1. Treatment with honey. Honey is effective for various diseases of the liver and gallbladder, it will help restore the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. In the morning before eating, you should dilute one spoonful of honey in a glass of warm water, drink, after half an hour you can have breakfast.
2. Vegetable juices. Beetroot is especially recommended. It is advisable to drink a whole glass of fresh beet juice at least several times a week to improve the state of the gastrointestinal tract.

Combining various conservative and popular means, you can achieve the most noticeable positive result. The main thing for alcoholic hepatitis is to follow all the doctor's recommendations and constantly monitor the liver.