Toxic and drug-induced hepatitis – symptoms, diagnostics, treatment of toxic and drug-induced hepatitis

Toxic Hepatitis (Drug-Induced Hepatitis)

What is toxic hepatitis?

Hepatitis – hepatitis. Toxic hepatitis is caused by the influence of drugs or toxic chemicals. Inflammation is a response of the immune system to infection, irritation or injury, which often lead to swelling and damage to the tissues of the body.

Toxic hepatitis – causes

The main function of the liver – uptake and degradation of foreign substances, contained in the blood, including nutrients and chemicals. Certain chemicals or drugs, can lead to liver damage, causing it to become inflamed.

Some substances, that can cause chronic hepatitis, They include:

• Medicines:
  • Acetaminophen;
  • Some antibiotics;
  • Isoniazid – It is used to treat tuberculosis;
  • Halothane – It is used for general anesthesia;
  • Statynы – It is used to treat high cholesterol;
  • Methyldopa – for the treatment of hypertension;
  • Gold compounds – for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis;
• Herbs and supplements:
  • Knitback;
  • Coffee;
  • Mistletoe Bela;
  • Certain combinations of traditional Chinese medical herbs;
  • High doses of vitamin A;
  • Some dietary supplements for weight loss;
• Chemicals:
  • Alcohol;
  • Polychlorinated biphenyls;
  • Chloroform;
  • Phosphorus compounds;
  • Dimethylformamide;
  • Carbon tetrachloride.

Risk factors for toxic hepatitis

The same chemicals the liver can break down different people with different performance, so toxic hepatitis can cause completely different chemical compounds.

However, exposure to large quantities of even minimally harmful toxins, or more different toxins simultaneously, may increase the risk of toxic hepatitis. Patients, that excessive alcohol abuse, or have liver disease, greater risk of toxic hepatitis when exposed to one or more hazardous substances.

Toxic hepatitis – symptoms

Symptoms of toxic hepatitis include:

• Yellowing of the eyes or skin, known as jaundice;
• Nausea;
• Vomiting;
• Dark or dark brown stools;
• White or light stools;
• Loss of appetite;
• Pain in the upper right abdomen;
• A dark or tea-colored urine;
• Itch.

Hepatitis toxic – diagnostics

There is no specific methods, to diagnose every case of toxic hepatitis. To diagnose, doctor will carefully study the history of the disease. He asked about the use of drugs and the impact of other chemicals, in particular, at work.

Physical examination will help determine the size of the liver and its sensitivity. A blood test will help assess the functioning of the liver. In some cases, your doctor may recommend a liver biopsy, to examine the state of the fabric directly.

Toxic hepatitis – treatment

For the treatment of most types of toxic hepatitis no specific drugs. If a patient diagnosed with toxic hepatitis, and established chemical compound or medicine, inflame, immediately to avoid contact with him. If severe symptoms, the patient must be assigned to bed rest. Patients, who experience severe nausea and vomiting assigned intravenous fluids and nutrients.

Toxic hepatitis symptoms usually disappear within a few days or weeks. Nonetheless, in severe cases, or if the treatment of the disease began late, toxic hepatitis can lead to irreversible liver failure, which is fatal in the absence of a liver transplant.

Prevention of toxic and drug-induced hepatitis

Exposure to toxic substances in the workplace can be prevented with proper use of protective clothing and equipment. Person, who are at risk of poisoning of the liver due to illness, You should consult a physician before taking any medication.