HERIBERTO SEDENO, M.D., LECTURE ON HEPATITIS

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HERIBERTO SEDENO, M.D., LECTURE ON HEPATITIS
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• Hepatitis is swelling and inflammation of the
  liver.
• Hepatitis is most commonly caused by a viral
  infection. There are, however, other causes of
  hepatitis. These include autoimmune hepatitis (a
  disease occurring when the body makes antibodies
  against the liver tissue) and hepatitis that
  occurs as a secondary result of medications,
  drugs, toxins and alcohol.
• The liver is located on the upper right side of
  the abdomen. It performs many critical functions
  that affect metabolism throughout the body,
  including
• bile production that is essential to digestion
• filtering of toxins from the body
• excretion of bilirubin, cholesterol, hormones,
  and drugs
• metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins

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• activation of enzymes (specialized proteins
  essential to metabolic functions)
• storage of glycogen, vitamins (a, d and k), and
  minerals
• synthesis of plasma proteins, such as albumin
• synthesis of clotting factors
• According to the Centers for Disease Control and
  Prevention, there are 4.4 million Americans
  living with chronic hepatitis, and many more are
  unaware that they have it (CDC).
• Viral infections of the liver that are classified
  as hepatitis are hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E
  viruses. Hepatitis A is a milder version of the
  disease, whereas hepatitis D is more severe.
  Treatment options vary depending on what form of
  hepatitis is diagnosed, and what caused it. Some
  forms of hepatitis are preventable.

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• If you have forms of hepatitis that are usually
  chronic (hepatitis B and C), you may not have
  symptoms in the beginning. Symptoms may not occur
  until liver damage occurs.
• Signs and symptoms of acute hepatitis appear
  quickly. They include
• fatigue
• flu-like symptoms
• dark urine
• pale-colored stool
• abdominal pain
• loss of appetite
• unexplained weight loss
• yellow skin and eyes (may be signs of jaundice)

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• Since chronic hepatitis develops slowly, these
  signs and symptoms may be too subtle to notice.

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