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Causes of hepatitis
By peace | November 27, 2006
People get hepatitis in many ways.
People get hepatitis A by eating food and drinking water infected with hepatitis
People get hepatitis B by having unprotected sex (having sex without using a condom) with someone who has hepatitis B; sharing needles with someone infected with hepatitis B; being accidentally stuck by an infected needle; or a mother passing the virus to her child during the birthing process.
People get hepatitis C from getting blood that is infected with the virus; sharing needles with someone infected with the virus; being accidentally stuck by an infected needle; or using tools for tattoos and body piercing that are infected with the virus. People also get hepatitis C by having unprotected sex and by a mother passing the virus to her child during the birthing process.
People can get hepatitis D only if they already have hepatitis B. People with hepatitis B can get hepatitis D by sharing needles with someone infected with the virus; being accidentally stuck by an infected needle; or having unprotected sex with someone that is infected with the hepatitis D virus.
People get hepatitis E by drinking water infected with the virus.
Causes Of Hepatitis
Hepatitis is caused by:
- Infections from parasites, bacteria, or viruses (such as Hepatitis A, B, or C)
- Liver damage from alcohol, drugs, or poisonous mushrooms
- An overdose of acetaminophen (such as Tylenol), which is rare but can be deadly (more common if you drink alcohol regularly)
- Immune cells in the body attacking the liver and causing autoimmune hepatitis
- Other medications that can cause damage to the liver include methyldopa (used uncommonly for high blood pressure), isoniazide for tuberculosis, seizure medications (like valproate and phenytoin), chlorpromazine, amiodarone (for irregular heart rhythm), and certain antibiotics (including trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and erythromycin). If you need to take any of these, your doctor will follow your liver function closely.
- Liver disease can also be caused by inherited disorders such as cystic fibrosis and Wilson’s disease, a condition that involves having too much copper in your body; the excess copper deposits in organs like your liver.
Hepatitis may start and resolve quickly (acute hepatitis), or cause long-term disease (chronic hepatitis). In some instances, progressive liver damage, liver failure, or even liver cancer may result.
The severity of hepatitis depends on many factors, including the cause of the liver damage and any underlying illnesses you have. Hepatitis A, for example, is generally short-lived, not leading to chronic liver problems.
Common risk factors include:
- Intravenous drug use
- Acetominophen overdose — the dose needed to cause damage is close to the effective dose, so be careful to take it only as directed; DO NOT use if you already have underlying liver damage
- Risky sexual behaviors (like having multiple sexual partners and unprotected intercourse)
- Eating contaminated foods
- Travel to an endemic area, like Asia, Africa, or South or Central America
- Living in a nursing home or rehabilitation center
- Family member who recently had hepatitis A
- Alcohol use
- Organ transplant recipient
- AIDS
- Blood transfusion received prior to 1990 (before hepatitis C blood test was available)
- Newborns of mothers with hepatitis B or C (can be transmitted during delivery)
- Healthcare workers, including dentists and dental hygienists, because of blood contact
- Receiving a tatoo
Three things to avoid for liver health
1. Avoid excessive alcohol
Excessive alcohol consumption can damage our liver. One of the most remarkable accomplishments of this miraculous organ is its ability to regenerate. (Three quarters of the liver can be removed and it will grow back in the same shape and form within a few weeks!) However, overworking your liver by heavy alcohol consumption can cause liver cells. This is called cirrhosis.
2. Avoid drugs and medicines taken with alcohol
Medicines, especially the seemingly harmless acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol and other over-the-counter medications), should never be taken with alcoholic beverages. Many prescribed and over-the-counter drugs and medicines (including herbal medications) are made up of chemicals that could be potentially hazardous to your precious liver cells, especially taken with alcohol.
If you are ill with a virus or metabolic disorder, liver damage may result from the medications you take. In such cases, you should ask your physician about possible liver cell damage.
3. Avoid environmental pollutants
Fumes from paint thinners bug sprays, and other aerosol sprays are picked up by the tiny blood vessels in your lungs and carried to your liver where they are detoxified and discharged in your bile. The amount and concentration of those chemicals should be controlled to prevent liver damage. Make certain you have good ventilation, use a mask, cover your skin, and wash off any chemicals you get on your skin with soap and water as soon as possible.
