HEPATITIS

Hepatitis infection is a major public health problem in India. It is caused by RNA virus. The virus is relatively resistant to heat, acid, and solvents .In infected persons, this disease multiples in liver and gets excreted in bile to stools. Mode of transmission is through fecal –oral route from a close contact between person to person, contaminated food and water also serves as source of infection. The effect of hepatitis is liver cell damage is most marked in centrilobular region and circulating antibodies help in limiting the dissemination of infection. Feces are infectious from 2 weeks before and 1 week after the onset of jaundice. The incubation period is from 15 to 50 days. Children less than 6 years are affected by hepatitis. During initial phase of illness the patient has moderate fever, severe cough, loss of appetite and upper abdominal pain. Immunity following hepatitis infection is lifelong and does not result in chronic infection or chronic liver disease. In young children it is usually subclinical, jaundice is uncommon and recovery is possible. Immunoglobulin given protects the close personal contacts and household members .Since vertical transmission from mother is known, contact isolation is recommended for the infant and breastfeeding is allowed. There is no specific therapy for acute hepatitis. Rest in bed is recommended till the certain level remains high. Good nutritious diet, rich in carbohydrates and with adequate proteins should be given .In the diet fat may be restricted but not necessarily eliminated.