Acute and chronic toxic hepatitis: symptoms, treatment, diet and other aspects

Toxic hepatitis is a fairly dangerous disease and requires timely diagnosis. This pathology is characterized by a bright current. When making a diagnosis for treatment are suitable in a complex. In advanced cases, liver transplantation may be required.

What is toxic hepatitis

Toxic hepatitis is a disease in which there is a gradual necrosis of cellsliver. This process is developed when exposed to poisonous substances, including industrial chemicals, alcohol and drugs. A similar type of pathology occurs much less frequently than other forms of hepatitis.

In children, toxic hepatitis occurs in isolated cases. The provoking factor is the treatment with potent drugs, which lead to the gradual death of liver cells.

When the body receives toxins in a moderate volume, a healthy liver copes with them without difficulty. However, if the amount of harmful substances increases and they attack the body on a regular basis, the body does not have time to neutralize them. The cells begin to die slowly.

Toxic hepatitis is the consequence of exposure to aggressive factors

The rate of the pathological process depends on the number of incoming toxic substances.

What is toxic hepatitis - video

Drug, acute, chronic and other types of hepatitis

By the nature of the current, hepatitis is released:

• acute - characterized by a sharp onset and bright symptoms;
• chronic - develops for a long time and has more erased manifestations.

Additionally, toxic hepatitis is classified into:

• alcoholic - occurs when consuming a large number of alcoholic beverages, including low-quality production;
• drug - develops as a result of taking drugs that have a negative effect on the liver;
• industrial - takes place with a permanent effect on the body of harmful chemical compounds used in the enterprise.

Causes and provoking factors

The cause of toxic hepatitis is the effect on the liver of harmful substances, such as:

• alcohol - ethanol derivatives;
• medications: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hormonal drugs, antiparasitic medicines, antidepressants, tranquilizers, antibiotics;
• herbs: comfrey, mistletoe, valerian;
• industrial poisons: naphthalenes, chloroform, disinfectants, arsenic, mercury and tin.

Chronic diseases of the liver and bile ducts act as provoking factors. In this case, tissue necrosis occurs in a very short time. Symptomatics more pronounced than when exposed to toxic substances on a healthy organ.

Symptoms and signs

The main symptoms of toxic hepatitis:

• pain on the right side of the ribs;
• nausea;
• lack of appetite;
• changes the hue of sclera and skin color to yellow;
• enlargement of the liver;
• raspiranie in the abdominal cavity( due to the accumulation of free fluid);
• general poor health.

In the toxic effects of carbon tetrachloride, the following symptoms are present:

• temperature increase;
• headache;
• nausea and vomiting;
• bleeding from the digestive tract;
• diarrhea;
• of jaundice.

Acute liver failure may develop within a short time, which is fraught with a fatal outcome. If you do not recognize the presence of toxic hepatitis in time, then it can go to cirrhosis. This disease is formed by cirrhosis of the liver.

After eating poisonous fungi, toxic hepatitis occurs within 20 hours. There is a bright symptomatology with all the signs of severe poisoning. Alcohol and dosage forms develop gradually over several months.

With prolonged course of toxic hepatitis, the development of liver cirrhosis is possible

Diagnostic measures

The main methods of investigation for suspected toxic hepatitis:

1. Biochemical blood test - allows to determine the status of liver functions for specific indications.
   

   It is important to assess the level of total bilirubin and its components - shows the amount of yellow pigment formed as a result of the breakdown of hemoglobin and cytochromes.

2. Ultrasound - is performed to identify changes in the structure of the liver. Ultrasound is absolutely safe and allows you to catch even the smallest changes.
3. MRI - magnetic resonance imaging is carried out due to the presence of a special nuclear field, which allows you to reproduce on the computer monitor the structure of any tissue.
4. Biopsy is performed as a differential diagnosis. It is necessary to exclude the presence of malignant cell degeneration. For the study, take a small piece of liver, which is examined under a microscope.

Treatment of toxic hepatitis

The main way to treat this type of disease is to eliminate the effects of toxic substances. In advanced cases, hemodialysis is carried out, which is a blood purification procedure. To stabilize the state requires a comprehensive approach to treatment.

Medication Therapy

Drug therapy is aimed at removing toxic substances from the body, restoring liver cells and normal functioning of the body. Most often used:

1. Adsorbents( Polysorbent, activated carbon, Enterosgel).Help to remove from the body the products of the decomposition of toxic substances.
2. Hepatoprotectors( Essentiale forte N, Heptral, Karsil).Maintain the functionality of hepatocytes( liver cells), excluding the possibility of their destruction under the influence of harmful substances.
3. Vitamins. The most useful for toxic hepatitis are vitamins B, folic and ascorbic acid.

Enterosgel, Essentiale forte N and other medicines - gallery

Ascorbic acid supports liver function B vitamins help with hepatitis Enterosgel removes toxins from the body
Essentiale Forte H restores liver cells

Diet

The diet for toxic hepatitis plays an important role. If you do not exclude some products and do not adhere to a certain menu, you can aggravate the symptoms and provoke the transition of the disease into a more severe form. The diet should contain enough vitamins and liver-friendly substances.

What you need to exclude:

• soda;
• coffee;
• salty foods;
• spices, sauces;
• smoked products;
• fatty foods;
• sweets in large quantities;
• semi-finished products;
• baking;
• garlic.

Food should not contain artificial supplements. Alcohol is under strict prohibition.

The menu should include:

• porridge;
• a small amount of butter;
• steaming fish;
• vegetables and fruits;
• dried fruits;
• low-fat broth with crackers;
• yogurt;
• sour cream with cottage cheese;
• kefir;
• green tea.

You need to eat at least 5 times a day.

Useful for toxic hepatitis products - gallery

Broth is important to cook on lean meat Green tea is rich in antioxidants Yogurt is better to eat without additives
Porridge is useful in toxic hepatitis Kefir normalizes digestion Vegetables and fruits are a storehouse of vitamins and minerals
Fish for a couple is goodcombined with vegetables Butter can be consumed in small quantities Sour cream with cottage cheese is useful for liver
Dried fruits perfectly replace sweets

Surgical intervention

In severe cases, when the liver almost completely ceases to function, the only way to save the patient is organ transplantation. Such an operation is extremely expensive. In addition, there is a high risk of organ rejection, since human immunity actively resists the introduction of foreign agents.

If there is only a partial replacement of the liver, then the donor can be a living person. Well, if it is a relative, so the risk of organ rejection is minimized. Return to normal life with a successful outcome of the operation can be in a year.

Folk methods of treatment

In toxic hepatitis the following folk medicine recipes are useful:

1. Cleansing decoction. It will take dry chicory.1 tbsp.l.pour 250 ml of boiling water and let stand for 20 minutes. Then add 1 tbsp.l.honey. All mix and take half an hour before meals 2 times a day for half a cup in a warm form for 10 days.
2. Healing infusion. During active flowering it is necessary to collect strawberry grass( preferably together with roots).Then dry in a dark place and grind.2 tbsp.l.raw in 500 ml boiling water. Leave to stand for 30 minutes. Filter and take 20 minutes before meals for 0.5 cup 2 times a day for two weeks. Pre-dilute with milk.
3. Cleansing juice. When hepatitis is very useful juice of fresh pumpkin. It is necessary to squeeze it daily out of the pulp and take half a cup a day an hour after eating for 10 days.
4. Juice of sauerkraut. Drink it should be 3 times a day for 120 ml 15 minutes before meals for 20 days.
   

   Juice of sauerkraut is an excellent remedy for restoration of liver function.

5. Infusion to maintain liver function. It will take 1 tbsp.l.dry herb St. John's wort, which you need to pour 400 ml of boiling water and insist 40 minutes. Then strain and take 2 times a day for 150 ml 15 minutes before meals for two weeks.

Folk remedies - gallery

St. John's wort supports liver function Sauerkraut helps with hepatitis Strawberry grass helps slowly but efficiently
Pumpkin juice contains substances useful to the liver Chicory must be consumed in dried form

Prognosis of treatment, possible complications and consequences

If in time to detect toxic hepatitis,then the forecast is favorable. If the disease turns into a chronic form, then there is a big risk of developing liver necrosis, as well as a lethal outcome. The most dangerous complications:

• occurrence of acute hepatic insufficiency;
• the transition of hepatitis to cirrhosis;
• complete necrosis of tissues.

If the liver stops functioning, the person will die in the shortest time. That's why qualitative differential diagnosis and timely treatment are so important.

Prevention measures

To prevent the development of toxic hepatitis, it is necessary: ​​

1. Avoid contact with harmful chemical compounds.
2. When working in industrial plants, do not forget about individual protective equipment and about regular preventive examination.
3. Do not abuse alcohol.
4. Take medicine only as directed by your doctor.

It is very important at the first signs of the disease to immediately consult a doctor.

Toxic hepatitis in neglected forms has a high risk of death. Timely diagnosis and quality treatment contribute to recovery. The main thing in therapy is to exclude all provoking factors. If this is not done, then the therapy will only have a temporary effect.