Botkin's disease symptoms as transmitted. What does hepatitis a mean and how not to get infected with Botkin's disease Botkin's disease is a way of transmission

One of the least dangerous and favorable types of hepatitis in terms of prognosis is type A or Botkin's disease. Despite the fact that the disease is quite difficult for the patient, it usually does not cause negative consequences for the liver and ends favorably in the complete recovery of the person with the development of lifelong immunity.

How is jaundice or Botkin's disease transmitted?

The ailment in question has a viral infectious nature and is transmitted by the fecal-oral, domestic route. This means that a carrier of hepatitis who does not follow the rules of personal hygiene, for example, does not wash his hands after using the toilet, is potentially dangerous. When sharing dishes, cosmetics with such a person, the risk of infection is very high. In addition, jaundice is transmitted through food and water.

It should be noted that direct contact with a carrier of hepatitis A is not necessary.

Symptoms of Botkin's disease

The incubation period proceeds without any clinical manifestations, this time ranges from 2 weeks to 50 days.

After the specified interval, the first signs of Botkin's disease appear:

• heat;
• palpable weakness, constant drowsiness and fatigue;
• heaviness in the liver area;
• pain in the upper epigastric region;
• nausea, ;
• subsequent decrease in body temperature to subfebrile values;
• lack of appetite, anorexia;
• enlargement of the liver in size;
• dark urine;
• the acquisition of fecal masses of a very light color, up to white;
• discomfort during flexion and extension of the joints;
• yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, as well as the palate.

It should be noted that the peak of the disease occurs very quickly and after complete yellowing of the skin and sclera, a person begins to feel much better, the liver decreases in volume. Moreover, from this point on, the patient is no longer contagious.

Infectious hepatitis or Botkin's disease - treatment

In fact, the human body heals on its own and in some cases jaundice is carried "on the legs" without special therapy.

In order to speed up the recovery process, the patient is provided with bed rest, diet (first No. 5a, and then No. 5), detoxification drugs, and vitamins are required. It is also recommended to increase the daily amount of fluid you drink - about 3 liters of water per day. Maintaining the water-salt balance and the protective functions of the body is prescribed intravenous administration of Ringer-Locke solutions, glucose.

Most hepatologists also practice infusions with sorbents (Rheosorbilact) and hepatoprotectors (Glutargin). Symptomatic treatment sometimes includes injections of Papaverine and Vikasol, drugs that relieve spasm of the smooth muscles of the abdominal cavity.

Thus, therapy is aimed mainly at eliminating the signs of hepatitis A and improving the patient's overall well-being. V further can be used for oral administration (Gepabene, Ursosan).

It is important to remember that, despite the absence of complications of Botkin's disease, this is a serious illness that harms all body systems due to poisoning with toxic compounds. Therefore, the duration of treatment is about 1 month, after which the person is granted an exemption from work for another 2 weeks. Moreover, weakness does not go away immediately and persists for another 3-6 months, during which you should continue to follow a diet and try to avoid both physical and emotional stress.

Prevention of Botkin's disease

The only measure that will help prevent infection is to follow the rules of hygiene. It is necessary to monitor the cleanliness of hands, consumed water and food. Try to have less contact with unscrupulous people, do not eat in suspicious places and do not try unwashed berries and fruits in the markets.

Hepatitis A, also known as Botkin's disease, is an acute infectious disease that affects the liver. The source of the pathogen is a sick person. According to the World Health Organization, up to 10 million people fall ill with hepatitis A every year in the world. In early childhood, pathology can be transferred in an erased form.

The incidence rate directly depends on the observance of personal hygiene rules in certain areas, institutions and teams.

Note:Botkin's disease is characterized by seasonality. The peak incidence occurs in the summer-autumn period. Most of the cases are children and adolescents from 4 to 15 years old, as well as young people.

The causative agent of Botkin's disease is an RNA-containing hepatitis A virus (according to the English-language nomenclature - HAV), belonging to the Picornaviridae family. This infectious agent is devoid of a shell. Currently, only one serological type of the virus has been isolated, but there are a number of different genotypes.

The main route of infection is alimentary - through contaminated water, food and utensils used by the infected person. The transmission mechanism of the virus is fecal-oral. Experts do not exclude that mechanical transmission can be carried out by some types of insects (in particular, house flies). There is evidence that parenteral transmission of HAV (with whole blood, plasma or red blood cells) is possible in rare cases.

The causative agent of Botkin's disease is very resistant to detergents, acid solutions, ether and chlorine. It retains virulence upon drying and thermal exposure (up to +60°C). In the aquatic environment (both in sea and fresh water), the virus can remain viable for several months. HAV is susceptible to formalin, and when boiled, it dies in 5 minutes.

Isolation of the infectious agent with feces begins at the end of the incubation period and continues throughout the "preicteric" phase. When a patient develops such a characteristic clinical symptom as jaundice, HAV is no longer detectable in faeces.

Development of the disease

The incubation (hidden) period of this disease ranges from 1 week to 50 days (on average - from 2 to 4 weeks).

Botkin's disease is characterized by the absence of a chronic form of the course. Pathology does not cause permanent damage to the liver. After a disease has been transferred once, the human immune system produces antibodies, thanks to which stable immunity is subsequently provided.

The icteric period, due to the vivid manifestation of clinical symptoms, lasts from a week to a month and a half.

The convalescence period begins with a general improvement in well-being and a decrease in jaundice. Subictericity (slight icterus) of the sclera, a feeling of heaviness in the right hypochondrium, slight hepatomegaly and asthenia can persist for quite a long time.

Symptoms of viral hepatitis

The causative agent has a damaging effect on liver cells. Organ tissues undergo inflammatory and necrotic changes, which is accompanied by general intoxication of the body.

The "entrance gate" for the virus is the epithelial cells of the digestive tract. Of these, the pathogen enters the bloodstream and migrates to the liver, where it actively multiplies in "Kupffer cells" (macrophages) and hepatocytes. HAV then enters the bile and is excreted through the intestines.

Early clinical symptoms of Botkin's disease:

Important:in many patients, especially in children, early symptoms (signs of intoxication and fever) with Botkin's disease may not appear at all.

As viral hepatitis A develops, the following are noted:

• hepatosplenomegaly (enlargement of the liver and spleen in size);
• darkening of urine (to "coffee-colored");
• discoloration of feces;
• dull pain in the liver area (in the right hypochondrium);
• yellowing of the sclera of the eyes and skin.

The diagnosis of viral hepatitis A is made by a specialist on the basis of a characteristic clinical picture and data obtained in the course of laboratory tests. The virus is detected in faeces only at the end of the “latent” period, and at earlier stages (already 1-2 weeks after the infectious agent enters the body), specific anti-HAV immunoglobulins (IgM) can be detected in the blood.

In the acute phase, laboratory studies reveal an increase in the activity of serum enzymes, in particular, aldolase, AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (alanine aminotransferase). ALT appears due to the destruction of liver cells by the virus.

Another diagnostic sign of Botkin's disease is an increase in blood levels. During the period of jaundice, monocytosis, relative lymphocytosis, leukopenia and, in some cases, a slowdown in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate can also be determined from the blood side.

The end of the acute phase of Botkin's disease is indicated by the appearance of specific IgG in the patient's blood. From this point on, we can talk about the formation of stable immunity to the hepatitis A virus.

There is no etiotropic treatment for Botkin's disease. Patients with suspected viral hepatitis are placed in the infectious departments of hospitals.

The basis of therapy is a diet (table No. 5 with limited salt intake) and a sparing regimen.

Patients require a large amount of liquid in the diet for the rapid elimination of toxins. Alkaline mineral waters and natural juices are recommended, 2-3 liters per day.

With a moderate course, intravenous administration of Ringer-Locke solutions and glucose (5%), 250-300 ml each, is indicated. With pronounced intoxication, an intravenous infusion of rheopolyglucin or gemodez 200-400 ml is required.

In severe cases, patients are subject to transfer to the intensive care unit, where they receive intravenous up to 1 liter of 10% glucose per day, as well as Lobari solution (up to 1.5 liters per day).

If the disease is complicated by acute, for the treatment of Botkin's disease, solutions of albumin (15%, 200-300 ml per day) and sorbitol (20%, 250-500 ml per day), as well as prednisone (intramuscularly or intravenously) 60-90 mg are prescribed per day and kontrikal (10,000-30,000 IU per day).

In some situations, blood transfusion may be chosen. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is considered a promising treatment for viral hepatitis A.

Prevention of viral hepatitis A

A vaccine has been developed against the virus, thanks to which outbreaks of Botkin's disease are successfully contained. Children, as well as pregnant women who have been in contact with infected people, are given gamma globulin for prophylactic purposes in hepatitis A foci.

Botkin's disease - a disease that occurs due to a virus, is accompanied by an inflammatory process and affects the liver. Another name for the disease is Hepatitis A.

This disease is quite well known in Africa, in Asian countries and other tourist regions where hot climatic conditions prevail (Turkey, Tunisia, Egypt, India). Such data are due to the fact that it is in hot countries that it is easier for viruses to survive, and in cold countries located in the north, the risk of getting the disease is much lower. More likely to suffer from Botkin's disease are those people who neglect the rules of personal hygiene and rarely wash their hands after the street. But the infection can also be transmitted through food and virus-contaminated water, especially if the immune system of the potential patient is reduced.

Classification of Botkin's disease

In medical practice, it is customary to separate two types of Botkin's disease:

• Typical look. In this case, the disease is recognized by a change in the color of the white of the eye and the color of the skin, which becomes distinctly yellow, followed by other signs and symptoms of the disease (described below).
• Atypical look. Such a case does not imply a change in the color of the skin, and the disease may go unnoticed for some time. However, if a child has an atypical type of Botkin's disease, then at the beginning of the change, only the stool will acquire, namely, its disorder.

The disease is also characterized by several forms of flow:

• easy or simple (common);
• moderate severity (occurs in about 30% of cases);
• severe form (occurs extremely rarely, in about 1-3% of patients)

Treatment of hepatitis A in most cases ends successfully, and the patient recovers completely. Moreover. All the changes that occurred to the liver during the illness return to normal again, and the functionality of the liver is restored. In some cases, the patient's liver enlarges, and maintains this size throughout life, but usually this does not show symptoms, and is only detected during ultrasound.

Causes of the disease

You can get Botkin's disease from another person infected with this virus. This does not mean the airborne route, but non-compliance with hygiene rules: eating food from the same dish, using the same hygiene items, etc. This does not mean that the disease will be transmitted in a ratio of 100%, but the risk of disease in the case described above is great.

The process of the development of the disease is as follows: the viruses enter the intestinal cavity, after which they enter the bloodstream, and from there they follow to the liver.

In this process, liver cells suffer the most, as an infection develops in them, which contributes to their defeat, and causes the main manifestations of Botkin's disease. The disease is accompanied by an inflammatory process, but this is only a protective reaction of the body. The human body is designed in such a way that it can recognize infectious processes and thus react. In this case, the body recognizes the affected liver cells of the patient, after which it begins to destroy them.

Consider the main factors leading to hepatitis A:

1. close contact with infected people;
2. non-compliance with hygiene rules;
3. kisses, sexual contacts;
4. tourist trips to countries with a hot and exotic climate;
5. drug use

How to recognize Botkin's disease

Signs of the disease: Yellow eyes, itching, digestive problems

The disease begins with an incubation period that can last from 15 to 50 days after infection. Then the patient has a feeling of lethargy and there is constant unjustified fatigue. Against the background of fatigue, body temperature may rise, and a person may experience a feeling of nausea, turning into vomiting. Often there is a violation of the stool, which is manifested by diarrhea and flatulence. And, of course, one of the main symptoms that distinguish hepatitis A from an ordinary fever is pain in the liver. However, the described manifestations may not be at the initial stage, and the patient himself may not be aware of the presence of Botkin's disease, and refer to an ordinary SARS.

To confirm or rule out Botkin's disease, a blood test for antibodies is needed. Thus, the presence or absence of immunity to the anti-HAV IgG virus is checked. If antibodies to hepatitis A are detected in the results of the analysis, this will mean that the person already had this disease, and it no longer threatens him. But, if antibodies are not detected in the blood, then the person is still susceptible to infection.

It is worth noting that even if a person has already had Botkin's disease and is completely cured, the virus still remains in his blood, and those who use the same hygiene items are at risk of becoming infected.

Thus, we highlight the main symptoms of hepatitis A:

• the occurrence of fever;
• pain in the region of the lateral part on the right;
• sleep is disturbed;
• feeling of general weakness and fatigue;
• feeling of heaviness in the abdomen (especially in the stomach area);

After the disease began to progress, the following symptoms are added:

• urinary fluid becomes frothy and dark in color;
• appetite becomes very weak or completely absent;
• the occurrence of jaundice (yellow skin, eye proteins and mucous membranes);
• stool becomes colorless

It should be noted that it is the manifestation of jaundice in full swing that promises an improvement in the patient's condition. The yellow tint of the skin lasts an average of a month and a half, but if the patient is too weakened by the disease or suffers from any additional ailments, then hepatitis A can become chronic. In the latter case, it is often necessary to heal the disease for six months.

How to Diagnose Hepatitis A

At the very beginning, if the signs described above were noticed for themselves or their loved ones, a potential patient should urgently contact a gastroenterologist, who will be able to make a preliminary diagnosis based on the manifestations and refer them further to the right doctor (if necessary).

If the patient has all the signs and symptoms of Botkin's disease, then the gastroenterologist issues a referral to an infectious disease specialist, who will diagnose.

First, you need an anamnesis of the disease, thanks to which the doctor will be able to find out the exact cause of the disease, since the course of treatment will also differ depending on the cause.

In addition, if a person does not live alone, then it is necessary to conduct a survey of all family members, and especially if there are children, since their body is more vulnerable to various infections.

Diagnosis of Botkin's disease consists in the following procedures:

• palpation by the doctor of the patient's liver area;
• a blood test to detect bilirubin;
• liver tests for the detection of liver enzymes;
• a blood test to check for the presence of antibodies to hepatitis A;
• blood clotting test

Treatment methods for the disease

Food serves as a cure

During a disease with Botkin's disease, a person's immunity throws all his strength into overcoming the disease. It is because of the activity of the immune system that the body is able to cope on its own, if we are not talking about a severe degree. Hepatitis A is treated only by a conservative method, but such a course of treatment is not aimed at eradicating the disease itself, but at improving the patient's well-being (relieving pain, reducing nausea and vomiting, etc.).

Consider the standard course of treatment for Botkin's disease:

• Diet No. The patient must strictly adhere to the diet, especially during an exacerbation, so as not to worsen his condition;
• the patient should be isolated from healthy people;
• the patient must comply with bed rest and be at rest;
• administration of sodium chloride and glucose solutions to the patient (to relieve symptoms of poisoning);
• administration of drugs to the patient that protect hepatic cells from destructiveness

What are the complications of hepatitis A?

Usually the disease ends with a cure and proceeds in a mild form, and less often in the form of moderate severity. However, if children under one year of age or people aged 60+ become patients, then their disease can become severe due to age-related weakness of the body. In this case, the signs of intoxication of the body will be especially pronounced.

A particularly dangerous type of Botkin's disease is atypical, in which there are no manifestations of jaundice. This species is a particular danger for babies under one year old, since their immunity is not too developed, and the disease for them can be fatal.

Botkin's disease is the most benign disease of the genus of hepatitis, but since the symptoms of all hepatitis are similar, you need to be sure of your diagnosis by consulting a doctor in a timely manner.

How to prevent Botkin's disease

You can prevent the disease if you protect yourself from the factors leading to it as much as possible. For example, it is necessary to observe the rules of personal hygiene, especially in hot countries, if you come there on a tourist visit. Next, you need to protect yourself from contact with infected people, and if they are relatives, then urgently get vaccinated.

Vaccination is the most reliable preventive measure and is carried out 2 times with a break of six months. It is worth noting that the introduction of the vaccine to children is possible only from the age of 3, therefore, until this age, it is necessary to carefully monitor your children and protect them as much as possible from the sources of the disease. People who fall into the risk group are required to be vaccinated.

Botkin's disease is much less common today than a few decades ago. But in case of violation of sanitary standards, a focus of the disease can occur. It is important to know what Botkin's disease is and how to cure jaundice.

Basic information

Botkin's disease (hepatitis A) is an acute viral disease that occurs due to the ingestion of contaminated water or food, dirt from the hands. The digestive system is mainly affected, the liver is especially sensitive. For the first time, the disease was described by the Russian therapist Sergei Botkin in 1888, it was he who pointed out the viral nature of the disease, which was subsequently confirmed by other studies. It is not known where the disease first appeared.

The causative agent of hepatitis A is a virus belonging to the genus hepatotropic, most often affecting the liver tissue. It is characterized by small size and high stability in the environment. The microorganism dies at temperatures above 60C, and at 100C, death occurs no earlier than after 5 minutes. The causative agent of acute viral hepatitis A survives well in water and persists on food.

Botkin's disease is common on all continents. The incidence rate depends on the observance of the rules of personal and public hygiene. The main source of infection is a sick person who is in the incubation or preicteric period. This pathology is characterized by virus carrying, in which there are no signs of the disease, but the virus is present in the body in a latent form.

Hepatitis A is most commonly transmitted by:

• Infected water.
• Food containing the virus.
• Dirty hands.
• injections. This path is the rarest and occurs only among drug addicts.

Large outbreaks of jaundice (hepatitis A) occur when the causative agent of viral hepatitis enters the water supply. Much smaller outbreaks occur when sanitary standards are not observed at public catering establishments, which requires immediate notification of the anti-epidemic service.

At-risk groups

The most susceptible to the virus are children aged 2 years and adults under 30.
It is known that infants cannot become infected with hepatitis due to the presence of maternal antibodies that protect them from many infectious diseases.

The dependence of the number of cases on the time of year is typical. The largest number is observed in spring and summer, which is associated with the establishment of a temperature that is comfortable for the life of the virus. Botkin's disease, called viral hepatitis A, leaves behind lifelong immunity, re-infection is impossible.

How the disease develops

The causative agent of viral hepatitis A, entering the human digestive system, spreads through the blood vessels and invades the liver cells, where the virus multiplies.

In response, the immune system secretes special enzymes that cause inflammation and destruction of the affected liver cells. Damage to these cells is accompanied by a violation of all liver functions, such as the synthesis of vitamins, bilirubin, protein, hemostatic substances.

With inflammation of the liver cells, swelling of the liver develops and compression of its blood vessels, the transport of bilirubin through the liver cells is disrupted. It enters the bloodstream, bilirubinemia occurs - the appearance of bilirubin in the urine.

The defeat of hepatocytes is temporary cyclic. Dystrophy occurs, necrosis of some parts of the liver cells occurs, however, regenerative processes are underway aimed at restoring the liver. In 2-3 months after the treatment of hepatitis A, the structure and functions of the liver are completely restored.

Symptoms

It is important to know what symptoms appear with hepatitis A. This will help you see a doctor on time. The incubation period for hepatitis A is 7 to 50 days. On average, the duration of this period is within 14–35 days. Basically, the incubation of the infection is erased without pronounced clinical symptoms and can only be detected during laboratory tests.

Symptoms of hepatitis A in adults are as many as in children. The first signs of jaundice in adults:

• Weakness.
• Liquid stool.
• Loss of appetite.
• Headache.

The manifest icteric form of the disease has a benign and cyclic course. There are three periods of the disease:

• Preicteric period.
• Icteric period.
• convalescence period.

The preicteric period begins acutely without bright precursors of the disease, allowing you to immediately suspect something was wrong. Symptoms can disguise themselves as signs of various diseases, such as SARS, intestinal infections, food poisoning. Observed:

1. Dyspeptic syndrome, characterized by the presence of decreased appetite, diarrhea and vomiting, intolerance to heavy food, belching with a bitter aftertaste, a feeling of heaviness and bouts of dull pain in the epigastrium.
2. Flu-like syndrome: chills, weakness, the presence of discomfort in the muscles, fever up to 40 degrees, slight nasal congestion, a slight sensation of sore throat.
3. Asthenovegetative syndrome is manifested by severe weakness, decreased performance, increased sweating, a drop in blood pressure, and a sharp change in mood.

Rarely, the preicteric period may be absent. Botkin's disease can begin with discoloration of various parts of the body.

On examination, swelling of the tongue, plaque on it is expressed. There is an increase in the liver and spleen, after 2-4 days the urine becomes dark in color, while the feces are poorly pigmented. The duration of the preicteric period is from 4 to 7 days.

Hepatitis A and jaundice

You need to understand that jaundice and hepatitis are not the same disease. Classification of jaundice according to the mechanism of occurrence:

With hepatitis A, it is parenchymal jaundice that develops. Types of jaundice:

• Hepatocellular. It is clinically manifested by yellowing of the skin, the absence of skin itching, the presence of spider veins on the face and body is visible, the patient has the so-called hepatic palms and an increase in the mammary glands. Causes of occurrence: hepatitis of various etiologies, drug-induced lesions and chronic liver diseases.
• Cholestatic. The causes of the development of symptoms of jaundice are: long-term use of antibacterial drugs, benign tumors, primary biliary cirrhosis, cholestatic hepatosis of pregnant women.
• Enzymopathic. The reason is a violation of the intracellular metabolism of bilirubin due to a deficiency of a number of enzymes. This type of jaundice is quite rare. Most often it is hereditary.

The incubation period for jaundice is 1-2 days. As already mentioned, jaundice is not hepatitis. Many people want to know how jaundice usually manifests itself in adults and children. This question is asked by everyone who felt the first signs of the disease.

Symptoms in adults begin in the same way as in children: with the appearance of icteric coloration of the sclera. They acquire a bright yellow color, this condition lasts about 3-4 weeks after the pathological process subsides. With jaundice during Botkin's disease, the skin of the face, palms and feet turns yellow, and last of all, the torso. The color of the skin becomes lemon-yellow. There is a table that determines the degree of coloring. Symptoms of jaundice last about 7 to 10 days.

During laboratory tests, antibodies to the hepatitis A virus are detected, an increase in the number of liver enzymes - alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) and aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), a decrease in the number of leukocytes, an erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) may be normal or reduced, an enlarged edge of the liver is determined during examination dense consistency. Symptoms and treatment of hepatitis A should be strictly controlled by an infectious disease doctor.

Jaundice in adults in severe form is extremely rare and is characterized by the development of damage to the central nervous system. There is a refusal to eat, there is nausea, vomiting and weakness, pathological tendon reflexes and tremor of the extremities appear.

Basically, jaundice in type A hepatitis passes with mild or moderate severity, there are no cases of transition to a chronic form.

In rare cases, an exacerbation is possible, it is accompanied by an increase in liver enzymes and is called an enzyme crisis.

In the period of convalescence (clinical recovery), the state of health improves, malaise disappears, the activity of liver enzymes (ALAT and ASAT) and the amount of bilirubin decrease. A decrease in the icteric coloration of the skin and the size of the liver is observed 1–2 months after the signs of hepatitis A and symptoms of intoxication subside.

Diagnosis of viral hepatitis A (Botkin's disease)

Treatment of jaundice in adults is characterized by large doses of drugs taken. Men receive the same treatment as women. Previously, people were treated by removing bile from the body.

The patient must undergo a course of therapeutic nutrition with restriction of fats and spicy foods. It must be understood that jaundice can be eliminated only under the supervision of a doctor. Hepatitis A is treated with the use of vitamins and hepatoprotectors that improve liver function. It is strictly forbidden to drink beer and any strong alcohol.

To remove the intoxication syndrome, abundant drinking, infusion therapy is used. To cleanse the gastrointestinal tract, drugs based on lactulose are used. Ursodeoxycholic acid and antispasmodics are used to eliminate jaundice syndrome. Cholagogue and detoxification drugs help to get rid of itching, as a result of which the pathological process subsides.

Identification and treatment of carriers is the basis for the prevention of Botkin's disease (hepatitis A). As a result, the peak of morbidity passes and the number of victims decreases. It is important to understand that personal hygiene helps to avoid Botkin's disease.

In comparison with other hepatitis, the pathology is considered the most favorable and has a good prognosis for life. The frequency of lethal cases does not exceed 0.4%. In addition, the disease is not accompanied by a chronic infectious and inflammatory process, which reduces the risk of complications such as cirrhosis and cancer.

With proper treatment and a mild course, the consequences of Botkin's disease are absent, and jaundice and other symptoms disappear after two weeks. To restore hepatocytes (liver cells), 2 months is usually enough.

A newborn suffers pathology much harder, which causes serious health consequences. Complications are also diagnosed in older people. As for children from one year old and adults, they are characterized by a quick cure for Botkin's disease.

Both men and women are equally likely to be infected. After suffering a viral liver injury, a strong immunity develops, which does not allow you to get sick again.

According to statistics, about one and a half million people annually suffer from Botkin's disease. In reality, this figure is much higher, since asymptomatic forms of pathology are not taken into account.

What is Botkin's disease?

The highest frequency of viral liver damage is recorded in developing countries with a hot climate. The disease is otherwise called "dirty hands disease", which is due to the fecal-oral mechanism of infection transmission. In some territories, children under 10 years of age already have developed immunity, as they have been ill with hepatitis A. The peak incidence occurs at the end of summer and September.

Previously, it was believed that pathology is the result of unsanitary conditions, but in the 70s of the 20th century a virus was discovered. This allowed the development of a vaccine against infection and reduced the risk of developing the disease.

A sick person with feces releases a huge amount of pathogens into the environment, as a result of which they enter the soil, water and food. Infection occurs by eating contaminated food.

The virus in a healthy body begins to multiply intensively, increasing the number of individuals and provoking an increase in intoxication. With the blood flow, the pathogen enters the liver, where it affects hepatocytes and disrupts the functioning of the gland.

Causes

The disease has an infectious origin. Its cause is a virus, which, entering the body, infects the liver and leads to the death of hepatocytes. Infection can occur:

The risk of infection increases when traveling to hot countries, as well as when hygiene rules are not observed.

The virus belongs to RNA pathogens, it is characterized by good resistance to adverse conditions.

Symptoms

After infection of the body, the first signs of intoxication appear, similar to the symptoms of SARS:

1. fever up to 40 degrees;
2. joint, muscle pain;
3. chills;
4. loss of appetite;
5. headache.

The duration of this period is 10 days, after which dyspeptic disorders are noted in the form of nausea, vomiting and intestinal dysfunction. Jaundice is considered a confirmation of hepatocyte damage. It is manifested by a specific clinical picture and changes in laboratory parameters.

The icteric syndrome includes discoloration of the feces and darkening of the urine, which is due to a violation of the production and movement of bile. As for the color of the skin, it can be either lemon or more saturated. It is especially important during the height of the disease to stick to a diet and not take alcohol, as the consequences can be quite serious. In most cases, the disease is not complicated, but this does not mean at all that medical recommendations can be neglected.

Over time, hyperthermia recedes, itchy sensations on the skin and soreness in the liver zone are disturbing. Discomfort is caused by stretching of the fibrous capsule of the gland by swollen tissues, which leads to irritation of the nerve endings.

Puffiness of the organ is observed, starting from the preicteric period, when there is an intensive reproduction of viruses. On palpation (palpation) of the zone of the right hypochondrium, hepatomegaly (an increase in the volume of the liver) can be detected. At this time, cell destruction occurs, as a result of which enzymes are released. In the laboratory, this is manifested by an increase in the level of ALT and AST.

The duration of the acute period is one and a half months. During this time, it is forbidden to drink alcohol.

During the breakdown of alcohol, toxic products affect hepatocytes, resulting in a severe consequence of Botkin's liver failure. Its development is due to the massive death of hepatocytes.

The complication can be manifested by encephalopathy and severe intoxication of the body. Note that hepatomegaly persists after recovery for several months.

Serious consequences of jaundice are observed in infants. Complications of hepatitis A can occur against the background of dehydration and are manifested by convulsions and impaired consciousness of the baby. Treatment of a newborn is carried out exclusively in a hospital under the supervision of a physician.

Treatment

In order for the consequences of jaundice to be minimal, it is necessary to start treatment of hepatitis in a timely manner. The main task of therapy is to reduce intoxication, protect gland cells and restore organ function. To date, there is no specific treatment for the disease. To reduce the severity of clinical symptoms, medications and a dietary diet are prescribed.

Medical method

The composition of drug therapy includes:

• enterosorbents, the purpose of which is to prevent absorption and accelerate the elimination of toxic products from the gastrointestinal tract;
• immunomodulators;
• vitamins;
• enzyme preparations necessary to facilitate the process of digestion;
• hepatoprotectors. Medicines are used to protect liver cells and restore their structure;
• cholagogues are used in the absence of a block in the biliary ducts.

To prevent the undesirable consequences of viral liver damage, in severe cases of the disease, hormonal agents and detoxification solutions for intravenous administration are prescribed.

Usually, in case of pathology of the hepatobiliary tract (liver, bladder, biliary tract), table No. 5 is prescribed. This diet is recommended throughout the illness, as well as within six months after recovery.

The diet allows you to reduce the load on the affected hepatocytes, regulate bile flow and normalize metabolic processes. There are the following principles of nutrition:

Why is jaundice dangerous?

Complications of Botkin's disease for newborns are extremely severe, and therefore require immediate hospitalization and intensive care. At an older age, the disease proceeds in a milder form, but the risk of undesirable consequences is still present. They are expressed:

• inflammation of the pancreas;
• joint damage (arthritis);
• inflammation of the mucosa of the digestive tract;
• vasculitis;
• renal dysfunction, which is expressed by nephrotic syndrome;
• inflammation of the hepatobiliary system.

Sometimes there is a secondary infection, the development of liver failure and encephalopathy.

Consequences of jaundice in men

There is an opinion that Botkin's disease can cause infertility, but convincing evidence for this theory has not yet been provided. The pathogenesis of the development of this complication has not yet been established, therefore, in case of unsuccessful attempts at conception, the cause should not be sought in viral liver damage.

For men, jaundice is dangerous to the same extent as for women. The severity of complications depends on comorbidities and lifestyle.

Given the prevalence of alcoholism among the stronger sex, Botkin's disease can quickly lead to liver failure. The fact is that the decay products of alcohol have a toxic effect on hepatocytes, because of which they gradually die. Viral infection on the background of alcoholic disease can lead to decompensation of the work of the gland up to complete failure. Note that cirrhosis develops faster in men.

The stronger sex is less inclined to adhere to dietary nutrition, as a result of which the affected hepatocytes in Botkin's disease experience an additional load (fatty, spicy food). This can result in liver failure due to irreversible cell death.

Consequences of Botkin's disease in women

According to statistics, the weaker sex is more likely to suffer from cholecystitis, cholangitis and biliary dyskinesia. From this it follows that hepatitis A can provoke an exacerbation of chronic diseases of the biliary tract.

On the other hand, women are more prone to hormonal fluctuations. They can be caused by endocrine pathology, oral contraceptives, stress and pregnancy. All this is reflected in metabolic processes, as a result of which the risk of obesity and the progression of concomitant diseases increases.

To avoid Botkin's disease or reduce the risk of its development, it is recommended to adhere to the following tips:

1. wash hands before eating and after visiting public places;
2. take precautions when living with a patient with hepatitis A in the same area;
3. drink water only from trusted sources;
4. have one sexual partner or use barrier protection (condoms) for casual intimacy;
5. observe the technology of cooking, without reducing the time of exposure to high temperatures on products;

Hepatitis A is a disease with a favorable prognosis, but treatment should not be neglected. Thanks to timely diagnosis and therapeutic measures, it is possible to reduce the area of ​​liver damage and restore its functioning faster.