Human Liver, Hepatitis A, Jaundice
The Human Liver
The liver is an organ in vertebrates, including humans. It plays a major role in metabolism and has a number of functions in the body including glycogen storage, plasma protein synthesis, and drug detoxification. It also produces bile, which is important in digestion. It performs and regulates a wide variety of high-volume biochemical reactions requiring specialized tissues.
The adult human liver normally weighs between 1.3 – 3.0 kilograms, and is a soft, pinkish-brown “boomerang shaped” organ. It is the second largest organ (the largest organ being the skin) and the largest gland within the human body.
Its anatomical position in the body is immediately under the diaphragm on the right side of the upper abdomen. The liver lies on the right of the stomach and makes a kind of bed for the gallbladder (which stores bile).
The liver is among the few internal human organs capable of natural regeneration of lost tissue; as little as 25% of remaining liver can regenerate into a whole liver again.
Some functions of liver relating to Hepatitis:
- The liver breaks down hemoglobin, creating metabolites that are added to bile as pigment.
- The liver produces and excretes bile required for dissolving fats.
- Some of the bile drains directly into the duodenum, and some is stored in the gallbladder.
- The liver breaks down toxic substances and most medicinal products in a process called drug metabolism. This sometimes results in toxication, when the metabolite is more toxic than its precursor.
- The liver converts ammonia to urea.
Many diseases of the liver are accompanied by jaundice caused by increased levels of bilirubin in the system. The bilirubin results from the breakup of the hemoglobin of dead red blood cells; normally, the liver removes bilirubin from the blood and excretes it through bile.
Hapatitis
Hepatitis is a gastroenterological disease (inflammation of the liver). It is caused mainly by various viruses but also by some poisons, autoimmunity or hereditary conditions.
A number of liver function tests are available to test the proper function of the liver. These test for the presence of enzymes in blood that are normally most abundant in liver tissue, metabolites or products.
Some chronic forms of hepatitis show very few of symptoms and only present when the longstanding inflammation has led to the replacement of liver cells by connective tissue; the result is cirrhosis (liver scarring). Certain liver function tests can also indicate hepatitis.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A or infectious jaundice is an enterovirus transmitted by the orofecal route, transmitted to humans through methods such as contaminated food. It causes an acute form of hepatitis and does not have a chronic stage.
The patient’s immune system makes antibodies against hepatitis A that confer immunity against future infection. A vaccine is available that will prevent infection from hepatitis A for life.
Normally, it can be spread through personal contact, consumption of raw sea food or drinking contaminated water.
Hepatitis A is transmitted fecal-orally, generally by ingesting contaminated water or food. Strict personal hygiene and the avoidance of raw and unpeeled foods can help prevent an infection.
Infected persons already begin excreting the hepatitis A virus with their stool two weeks after the appearance of the first symptoms.
The time between the infection and the start of the illness can run from 15 to 45 days, and approximately 15% of sufferers may experience relapsing symptoms from six months to a year following initial diagnosis.
Hepatitis A is caused by the Hepatitis A Virus (abbreviated HAV). Only 3 out of 4 people with Hepatitis A have symptoms. Those symptoms may include:
- Jaundice (showing up first as yellow eyes)
- Dark urine
- Nausea
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Stomach ache
- Vomiting
- Itchiness
Ways to prevent hepatitis A include the following:
- Wash hands with soap and warm water before preparing or eating food, and after sexual activity.
- Keep bathrooms clean and disinfected after every use.
- Cook shellfish thoroughly before eating.
- Drink water from approved sources only.
- Use a dental dam or sheet of plastic wrap during anilingus.
Recovery
There is no specific treatment for Hepatitis A. Sufferers are advised to rest, avoid alcohol, eat a well-balanced diet, and stay hydrated. Approximately 15% of people diagnosed with Hepatitis A may experience a symptomatic relapse for up to nine months after contracting the disease.
Young children who catch hepatitis A often have a milder form of the disease, usually lasting from 1-3 weeks, whereas adults tend to experience a much more severe form of the disease.
They are often confined to bed and minimal activity for about 4 weeks and have to stop their work for one to three months or longer. Many adults take up to 6-12 months and occasionally longer to recover entirely. Symptoms that may be experienced after the first month or two are low immunity: It is much easier to catch minor infections and for these infections to linger longer than they normally would.
Many people experience a slow but sure improvement, over this later period. They are generally able to function fairly normally, still needing more sleep and reduced athletic activity. It is common for recovering patients to experience occasional “off” days, during which they need to rest more.
Jaundice
Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin, sclera (the white of the eyes) and mucous membranes caused by increased levels of bilirubin in the human body (or the body of another red blooded animal).
When red blood cells die, the heme in their hemoglobin is converted to bilirubin in the spleen and in the hepatocytes in the liver. The bilirubin is processed by the liver, enters bile and is eventually excreted through feces.
Consequently, there are three different classes of causes for jaundice. Pre-hepatic or hemolytic causes, where too many red blood cells are broken down, hepatic causes where the processing of bilirubin in the liver does not function correctly, and post-hepatic or extrahepatic causes, where the removal of bile is disturbed.
Hepatic causes include acute hepatitis, hepatotoxicity and alcoholic liver disease, whereby cell necrosis reduces the liver’s ability to metabolise and excrete bilirubin leading to a build up in the blood.
Jaundice seen in the newborn, known as neonatal jaudice, is common, occuring in almost every newborn as hepatic machinery for the conjugation and excretion of bilirubin does not fully mature until approximately two weeks of age.
wayne replied:
well my girlfriend is in her bed now as we speak and one day coming home from work she felt ill and had to go to the doctors the doctor put her to hospital and done tests on her to find out what is wrong and the rusults came back as her liver is not working properley
and she found out this while in hospital now that she is out of hospital shes allways tired and expierences bad headachs please help me to understand as i am so upset i cant cope ,, when she sleeps then she has energy and then when she stands up she can only do it for 20 mins and then its back to bed ,please help me
10 October 2006 at 8:28 am. Permalink.
LinDa replied:
Hi wayne, I’m not a doctor myself so I can’t give you much proper advice.
Has the doctor done a blood test and liver scan? If the liver is not functioning properly, much can be tell by a blood test and a liver scan to determine what’s wrong.
There are many reasons which you can find from wikipedia under liver. Just google/yahoo on it.
I did feel extremely unwell and was practically sleeping all the way in the first week.
Its been about 6 weeks and I’m feeling all right now. My case is just Hepatitis A which is the least worrying of all liver infections.
Please get your girlfriend to seek a specialist advice if the doctors in the hospital cannot detect the abnormality.
Best regards!
10 October 2006 at 9:50 pm. Permalink.
Jaya replied:
Hi,
My hubby has been detected with Hepatitis A,what do you suggest as his best way of getting it away.
30 March 2007 at 11:20 pm. Permalink.
LinDa replied:
hi, if its being diagnosed, there is no getting it away. i’ve done research online when i caught it and it all says rest is the best way. don’t over exert. its only real terrible during the first 2 weeks. after that, its less torturous as you just feel lethargic most of the time, hard to concentrate, weak, poor appetite. but the jaundice can be a bit more tricky as it made me feel real itchy all over now and then. most important is still rest as liver is self-healing, there is no medicine for it. take care!
4 April 2007 at 10:33 pm. Permalink.
myra replied:
hi Linda! don’t worry, i dont have any liver infection problems to ask about. i just want you to know that ur blog on hepatitis A helped a lot in doing our research. I am a 3rd yr. pharmacy student and we will be reporting about that topic later this month. thanks to you. be healthy always!=)
8 August 2007 at 3:46 pm. Permalink.
LinDa replied:
hi myra, student from singapore? i’m glad to be of help!
9 August 2007 at 3:08 am. Permalink.
sokhor replied:
I want to know the function of the human liver.
From Rov Sokhor,second year of medicine universety of Cambodia.
6 September 2007 at 9:07 pm. Permalink.
LinDa replied:
Just wikipedia on it. Lots of information there!
6 September 2007 at 11:47 pm. Permalink.
ina replied:
Your blog was a godsend! Excellent information. My 16 year old son was diagnosed with Hepatitis A 8 days ago.
At first he had no appetite but now he’s starting
to get it back. Can you suggest a good diet during
this early period? Is it alright to give him meat,chicken and fish?
Thanks and all the best from Cairo!
25 September 2007 at 8:38 pm. Permalink.
LinDa replied:
I think its meat, chicken and fish is fine. Just have small portions of the food.
25 September 2007 at 11:53 pm. Permalink.
Xecutioner replied:
Hi all !!!
I suffered from Jaundice twice in two years . Last time I was diagnosed with HEV or Hepatitis E . Now I suffered with HAV . So U guys can ask me anything U wanna knw coz I suffered more than I could explain . Btw got vaccinated myself with Hepatatis B . God kws why didnt I vaccinated against HAV . But get Vaccinated and stay safe thats my sincere request to all ! Two seconds of pain is better than two months of suffering !!!
2 October 2007 at 6:34 am. Permalink.
cyrus replied:
Hi, I was wondering having fish in regular food scheduale more than normal could be harmful to liver …another words eating more fishes can cause a sort of disorder to liver ?
13 April 2008 at 1:58 am. Permalink.
cyrus replied:
I hereby need to declare that Im a healthy and atheletic person and have no illness sindrom at all.
13 April 2008 at 2:03 am. Permalink.
LinDa replied:
hi, honestly i have no idea. not doctor.
15 April 2008 at 11:52 pm. Permalink.
chendu replied:
What is the diet to be followed by the person suffering from jaundice?
15 May 2008 at 5:48 pm. Permalink.
LinDa replied:
Just Wikipedia it. Lots of information there!
19 May 2008 at 1:06 am. Permalink.
Ramjesh replied:
Hello all,
My spouse couple was affected with a sort of jaundice. We are still in the process of doing blood test. He has all the symptoms that describs for Jaundice. But waiting for the blood test results. Mean while I would like to know whether I will be also get affected to this decease when am beside him. Like while eating sleeping and all other times.
11 June 2008 at 3:14 am. Permalink.
LinDa replied:
Hi, I don’t think jaundice is transmittable but best if you can google or wikipedia on it. Take care!
12 June 2008 at 12:56 am. Permalink.
rahul vasu replied:
hi, im rahul from india and i got jaundice on 19th july 2008 and its one month over now when it will take to recover for jaundice and how many days???
25 August 2008 at 12:52 pm. Permalink.
LinDa replied:
i really don’t know. trying wikipedia-ing. take care..
25 August 2008 at 10:34 pm. Permalink.
Paddy replied:
IT was very nice to get so much of information about the Small Word Jaundice….. i was affected it with the same a month back …..i was just wondering …. that y exactly a patient is advised to take rest ….i can understand with the initial stage ….but after a month . i think he should get back to a normal ..routine …if u have any Idea ..plz do mail me up abt the same ….w8ing for ur reply …..
thanks for the info ….and best luck for the future ..and another please keep doing such good things …so thats useful for the people like us ….thanks a lot ….
16 January 2009 at 5:35 pm. Permalink.
G.p replied:
jaundice is a symptom and not a dissease it my be either hepatitis ABCDE or gall stone or obstructive jaunice any way u have to make a blood profile markers on sgot sgpt bilirubin and all hepatitis markers and make ultrasound to detect size of the liver ,and about hav no treatmeant except rest well balanced diet and little protin and oil never to be used and u have to see a doctor once weekly to be away from complication like fluminant hepatitis but in children it ay pass witout appearance of symptom
3 March 2009 at 11:25 pm. Permalink.
branden replied:
yes does jaundice go away on adults by its self and if so how long..
22 July 2009 at 4:12 am. Permalink.
sneh replied:
hey guys
i sort of am suffering from jaundice right now.
but on the path of recovery. been drinking lots of water (my doctor advised 8-10 liters, yeah thats hard to reach), told me to avoid oil, spicy food,
1st 2 weeks totally on boiled food, especially i would say take lots of RADISH and try drinking the juice of it’s leaves. it tastes really awefull but its the only way to reduce the goddamn BILIRUBIN.
trust me drinking water doesn’t lower it. keep resting and dont go hard on ur liver.
stay on oilfree and spicy free diet for 2-3 months to get back on track……….
get ur blood tests for sgpt and bilirubin done to keep track…..
24 July 2009 at 2:44 pm. Permalink.