| Hepatitis
Sorting
out the myth and madness from the genuine and accurate.
 Due
to the number of inquires on Hepatitis and the confusion behind it, I
have complied this newsletter to help make sense of and clarify the aspects
of Hepatitis, the types and how to handle the problem if you yourself
find you test positive. The information was compiled from a variety of
sources, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
Physician’s Desk Reference and the National Center for Infectious
Diseases.
This
article will be divided into three basic sections. The first describing
the types of Hepatitis and how it is transmitted. The next sections will
discuss the options for treatment and protocols.
Hepatitis
Types
There are
several forms of Hepatitis such as A, B, C, D, E, G and subtypes. This
article will discuss the first five which are the most common.
Hepatitis
A
 A
liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Hepatitis A can affect
anyone. In the United States, hepatitis A can occur in situations ranging
from isolated cases of disease to widespread epidemics. HAV is typically
transmitted in the feces via the fecal-oral route. In the United States,
HAV constitutes about 47% of all acute hepatitis, constituting about 125
– 200,000 infections annually. Looking at the 50 year trend, this
disease is currently on a decline.
HAV
has an average incubation period of 30 days. The most prevalent symptoms
include fatigue, jaundice, fever, nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea and
abdominal pains.
Those
that are most at risk would be persons who handle infected persons, intravenous
drug use, homosexual activities, and poor sanitation in areas of high
infection. Food handling by an infected person can also transmit the disease.
Good
hygiene and health habits are your best protection.
Vaccines are commonly used, however, you should be fully informed prior
to use. These are not recommended for children under 2 or persons who
have a lowered immune system. Reactions to the vaccine commonly include
fever, nausea, redness and swelling at injection site, and fatigue. Less
common reactions include rash, upper respiratory infections, abdominal
pain, enlarged lymph nodes, insomnia, vertigo and anaphylactic shock.
HAV
infection appears to induce lifelong protection against subsequent infection.
There is NO long term infection for HAV, once you have had it, you will
not get it again.
Hepatitis
B
Liver
disease caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). The incubation period for
hepatitis B ranges from 45-180 days, and the onset of acute disease is
generally insidious. The acute disease usually runs its course in 30-60
days. It is most commonly found in young adults ranging in age from 20-39
years. The most common mode of transmission is through sexual activities
and piercing the skin common in; using needles, piercing ears and other
body parts, tattooing, as well as acupuncture. Promiscuous sexual activity
constitutes about 41% of the acute infections with injection drug use
accounting for 15%. Currently 31% of the infections could not be categorized
into a known risk factor.
Common
signs and symptoms include fatigue, jaundice, fever, nausea, loss of appetite,
vomiting, abdominal pains, and joint pains. However, about 30% infected
do not have symptoms.
Prevention
includes the use of a condom if you have multiple partners, do not shoot
drugs, and if you are unable to stop do not share needles. Do not share
personal hygiene items that could have blood such as toothbrush, razor,
etc.
The
vaccine commonly used for Hepatitis B should not be given to those with
yeast sensitivities, pregnancy, nursing mothers, and immune compromise.
Common adverse reactions include localized swelling, fever, chills, weakness,
low blood pressure, flu-like symptoms, nausea, anorexia, abdominal pain,
vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, enlarged lymph nodes, muscle pains,
joint stiffness, back ache, rash, sleep disturbance and restlessness.
Some less common reactions include liver damage, migraine headaches, Bell’s
Palsy, multiple sclerosis, seizures, earaches and anaphylactic shock.
Other
forms of treatment used are Adefovir dipivoxil, alpha interferon, and
lamivudine which are three drugs licensed for the treatment of persons
with chronic hepatitis B. These drugs also have a variety of side effects
which should NOT be overlooked when considering treatment. These range
from fever, flu-like symptoms, headaches and chills to white blood cell
suppression, lethal liver toxicity, and depression just to name a few.
Most
acute HBV infections in adults result in complete recovery with clearance
of HAB from the blood and the production of antibodies designating immunity
from future infection.
However, approximately 30%-90% of young children and 2%-10% of adults
who are infected with HBV develop chronic infection, and most of the serious
sequelae associated with HBV occur in these persons. Persons with chronic
HBV infection are often asymptomatic, but these persons are at high risk
for developing chronic hepatitis, and approximately 15%-25% may die prematurely
from either cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Hepatitis
C
Liver
Disease caused by Hepatitis C virus (HCV). The average incubation period
is 6 weeks however; this can vary from 2-26 weeks. Eighty percent of those
infected are non-symptomatic. Those with symptoms commonly complain of
jaundice, fatigue, dark urine,  abdominal
pain, loss of appetite and nausea. The most common mode of transmission
is from injection drug use, transfusion, occupational, home dialysis use,
re-using needles, and birth transmitted from mother. These same people
are also at risk for Hepatitis B and HIV. Infections are presently on
a decline although it outnumbers HIV four to one. Injection drug use accounts
for 60% of the total infections, 15% due to sexual transmission, 10% transfusion,
4% occupational and 10% unknown.
These
and others testing positive for Hepatitis should NOT donate blood. HCV
is not spread by kissing, hugging, sneezing, coughing, food or water,
sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses, or casual contact it will
not affect you by casual contact.
Long
term affects include chronic infection and liver disease. There are NO
vaccines for this and common drugs used are Interferon and ribavirin which
are many times used together. These are currently the only two drugs licensed
for the treatment of persons with chronic hepatitis C. Drug therapy is
50% affective. These drug reactions include fever, flu-like symptoms,
headaches and chills to white blood cell suppression, lethal liver toxicity,
carcinogenesis, and depression just to name a few. In fact according to
WebMD The majority of hepatitis C patients developed at least some depressive
symptoms and 33% met the criteria for major depression during interferon
treatment.
Hepatitis
D
 Liver
infection caused by the Hepatitis D Virus (HDV). HDV infection can be
acquired either as a co-infection with HBV or as a superinfection of persons
with chronic HBV infection. Typically this presents as more severe acute
symptoms.
The
mode of transmission is very similar to HBV. Most commonly seen with intravenous
drug use and promiscuous sexual activity.
This
virus is dependant on the Hepatitis B virus for replication. Prevention
would be the same as that for HBV.
Hepatitis
E
Hepatitis
E Virus is the main cause of intestinally transmitted anti-A and Anti-B
hepatitis. The incubation period following exposure to HEV ranges from
15 to 60 days. Typical clinical signs and symptoms of acute hepatitis
E are similar to those of other types of viral hepatitis and include abdominal
pain anorexia, dark urine, fever, hepatomegaly (enlarged liver),  jaundice,
malaise, nausea, and vomiting. Other less common symptoms include joint
pain, diarrhea, and rash. The period of infectivity following acute infection
has not been determined but virus excretion in stools has been demonstrated
up to 14 days after illness onset. In most hepatitis E outbreaks, the
highest rates of clinically evident disease have been in young to middle-age
adults. No evidence of chronic infection has been detected in long-term
follow-up of patients with hepatitis E.
HEV
is transmitted primarily by the fecal-oral route and fecally contaminated
drinking water is the most commonly documented vehicle of transmission.
Although hepatitis E is most commonly recognized to occur in large outbreaks,
HEV infection accounts for >50% of acute sporadic hepatitis in both
children and adults. Unlike hepatitis A virus, which is also transmitted
by the fecal-oral route, person-to-person transmission of HEV appears
to be uncommon. However, hospital based transmission, presumably by person-to-person
contact, has been reported to occur. Virtually all cases of acute hepatitis
E in the United States have been reported among travelers returning from
high HEV-endemic areas.
Prevention
of hepatitis E relies primarily on the provision of clean water supplies.
Prudent hygienic practices that may prevent hepatitis E and other intestinally
transmitted diseases among travelers to developing countries include avoiding
drinking water (and beverages with ice) of unknown purity, uncooked shellfish,
and uncooked fruits or vegetables that are not peeled or prepared by the
traveler. No vaccines or drugs are available to prevent hepatitis E.
Additional
Comments on Hepatitis:
Prevention
and Treatment
In addition,
you should
know that some patients with typical signs and symptoms of acute viral
hepatitis do not have blood tests positive for any of these types of viral
hepatitis and can be classified as having non-ABCDE hepatitis. Recently,
new viruses have been discovered in patients with non-ABCDE hepatitis.
This is not surprising in that research shows
that microorganisms very commonly mutate to successfully survive in their
surrounding environment. In other words a microorganism such as a bacteria
or virus will change or mutate based on the living conditions of its environment.
The environment of your body is based on your health
habits such as nutrition and eating habits, function of your nerve system,
exercise, and mental attitude.
Prevention
includes good hygiene and good health habits.
Do
NOT think that vaccine or drug therapy is your only solution. There are
other non-toxic viable solutions to this problem. If you have chosen drug
therapy the following can be used in conjunction as well.
To
state the obvious these conditions have to do with two systems in the
body. The immune system and the Liver system. Both of these systems can
be supported greatly with conservative care which has shown to be highly
effective and has no known side-effects.
To begin with here are some of the critical dietary
recommendations. Eliminate all hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated
fats and oils, refined carbohydrates, fast-acting sugars (fruit juice),
alcohol, caffeine (chocolate, cola, coffee, black tea), fried foods and
limit gluten containing grains and dairy products. Increase raw foods,
quality proteins and raw/ unrefined oils (live flax seed oil) or better
yet EPA-DHA. Increase pure water intake to a minimum of half your body
weight in ounces per day.
We then utilize a unique program of liver detoxification
and immune system enhancement which has helped dozens over the years with
these types of conditions. This comprehensive program is highly effective.
For more information on this or other health concerns please contact our
office.
To
Your Health,
Dr. Bradley
C. Shapero
Dr.Bradley Shapero
Premier Health Care - A rapidly
expanding state of the art health care facility helping
to create a drug free saner world through the delivery of the most advanced
health care system on the planet - CHIROPRACTIC
EXPECT MIRACLES - WE DO
www.premierhealthcaresc.com
drshapero@premierhealthcaresc.com
Located: 105 Ave. De La Estrella, Ste. 1A
San Clemente, California
949/492-7488 |
