How to protect yourself from viral hepatitis
What is parenteral viral hepatitis
Parenteral viral hepatitis is an infectious inflammatory disease of the liver that occurs in both acute and chronic forms. Cause diseases of hepatitis B, C, D, G viruses.
How the disease progresses and what are its dangers
The period from the moment of infection to the first manifestations is from 2-6 weeks to 6 months. During this time, the virus multiplies in the body. Next comes the pre-jaundice period (4-10 days), a feeling of weakness is disturbed, nausea and vomiting appear. The liver and spleen gradually enlarge, the skin itches, the urine darkens, and the feces become discolored. Then comes the jaundice period lasting up to 1.5 months. First, the eyes, the mucous membrane of the hard palate turn yellow, later the skin becomes discolored. Jaundice is accompanied by headache, drowsiness, fever, right-sided pain in the liver. When the jaundice fades, a period of recovery begins.
The danger of this pathology is that acute infection in some patients turns into chronic hepatitis or immediately develops a long chronic asymptomatic process. The virus can persist in the human body for tens of years, and by gradually destroying liver cells, lead to the development of cirrhosis or liver cancer.
What are the ways and factors of infection with parenteral viral hepatitis
Hepatitis B, D, C viruses are contained in the blood, semen, vaginal secretions, saliva, bile, sweat, breast milk and other biological fluids of an infected person. The penetration of viruses into the body of a healthy person occurs through damaged skin and mucous membranes. The spread of infection in families can occur mainly in three ways - sexual, contact-household and from mother to child. There is also a way of transmission of infection through the blood - when using common tools (needles, syringes) during non-medical injection of narcotic substances. The risk also exists when using common blood-contaminated reusable tools for tattoos, manicures/pedicures, piercings, razor blades.
Prevention of parenteral viral hepatitis is:
Vaccination against hepatitis B. The vaccine used is highly effective and well tolerated, at least 98% of those vaccinated develop immunity lasting 15 years or more.
Reliable monogamy and condom use.
Categorical refusal of drugs.
Careful attitude to all manipulations during which the integrity of the skin and mucous membranes is violated (for tattooing, piercing, manicure, etc.), especially if they are carried out in unsuitable, questionable conditions, where the principle of sterility of objects and equipment is not observed.
Use of only individual items of personal hygiene: shaving and manicure accessories, towels, scissors, combs, washcloths, toothbrushes.
What rules of safe behavior should be followed to prevent the spread of parenteral viral hepatitis among family members
If someone from your family is sick with viral hepatitis or is a carrier of these viruses, then in order to prevent the spread of infection among other family members, it is necessary to know and strictly follow certain rules of safe behavior.
1) Strictly observe the rules of personal hygiene. Give the patient and each family member individual items of personal hygiene: a towel, a toothbrush, shaving equipment, a manicure set, a washcloth, a comb. All personal hygiene items and belongings of a hepatitis patient, as well as surfaces of the external environment contaminated with blood, should be disinfected.
2) During sexual contact (if pregnancy is not planned), it is necessary to use a condom, which is a mechanical barrier against viruses.
3) Children should cut their nails short to prevent scratching themselves and others.
4) It is necessary to have several pairs of rubber gloves in the first-aid kit and wear them when providing medical assistance to a family member infected with the parenteral hepatitis virus.
5) If the family members have skin injuries, you should use finger pads or adhesive plaster.
6) In case of contact of a healthy person with the patient's blood (for example, as a result of a needle during an injection to a patient, in case of domestic injuries), you should: remove the gloves with the outer side inward, thoroughly wash the wound under running water, treat the wound with 3% hydrogen peroxide. If the material gets on the mucous membranes of the eyes, the mucous membrane should be washed with water.
7) Vaccination against hepatitis B is carried out in polyclinics at the place of residence. Before vaccination, it is necessary to undergo a laboratory examination for the presence of the virus in the blood.
8) Family members of a patient or an asymptomatic carrier of the hepatitis virus are subject to an annual laboratory examination for timely detection of infection.
By following these rules in the family, you will prevent the spread of infection among relatives. Knowledge and your active actions are the basis of prevention of domestic infection.
