Toxic hepatitis: causes, symptoms and treatment

Acute toxic hepatitis is a rather dangerous form of the disease, caused by the penetration of toxic substances into the body. In this role can act poisons, salts of heavy metals, natural toxins (poisonous fungi), some medicines, alcohol and others.

Toxic hepatitis: causes

There are many factors that can lead to a similar result. The liver is a natural filter of the body, and it is in this body that detoxication of dangerous compounds is carried out. Therefore, when exposed to toxic substances, the liver suffers first of all.

Toxic liver damage can be a sign of poisoning with benzene, arsenic, lead, pesticides and many other compounds. Often, the disease develops with the use of poisonous fungi, as well as biting especially dangerous animals that release toxins into the human blood.

On the other hand, toxic hepatitis may have more common causes. For example, quite often this state develops with the poisoning of the body with alcohol. In this case, the important role played by the composition of the drink used, its quantity, as well as the duration of such a harmful predilection.

The cause of toxic damage can become and some medicamentous preparations, especially if to connect them with poisons and other aggressive chemical substances. That is why during the intake of drugs, alcohol and drugs are prohibited, but, unfortunately, such recommendations are often neglected.

Toxic hepatitis is a very serious condition. In the absence of timely treatment in the tissues of the body, necrotic processes begin.

Toxic hepatitis: symptoms

The first signs of intoxication appear not immediately, but on 2-4 days from the moment of toxin penetration. First, a person loses his appetite and complains of a constant feeling of bitterness in his mouth.

Then there is a dull pain in the area of the right hypochondrium, which gives into the scapula. It can from time to time intensify, especially if the patient ate something sharp or fat. Symptoms can also appear from the digestive system - nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, bloating, etc.

In the blood, the level of bilirubin increases, as a result of which the skin of the patient acquires a yellowish tinge, like the proteins of the eyeballs.

With palpation, you can see that the size of the liver is increased, and touching and pressing at this point causes a new pain attack.

Toxic hepatitis: treatment

If a person has similar symptoms, then you should immediately go to the hospital - independent treatment in this case is life-threatening. After a series of tests and studies, the doctor will diagnose, and also find out the cause of the disease, the stage of its development and the toxin to which the patient was exposed.

To begin with, it is necessary to completely remove the toxin from the body. The methods that are used here directly depend on the form of the toxin, the amount and time of its administration.

If necrosis began to develop along with toxic poisoning, then the same methods are used for treatment as for viral forms of the disease. In the event that a patient suffers from a benign form of hepatitis caused by taking a drug, sometimes it is possible to do without medicamental treatment. As a rule, stopping the use of the drug stops the development of the disease.

If the patient's help was provided on time, then the prognosis for him will be favorable - complete disappearance of symptoms will come after 2-4 weeks, after which the body can slowly restore liver function. Patients are also prescribed a special diet, which does not create an additional burden on this body.