Hepatitis Inflammation of the liver Acute or chronic infection SX similar for all of the hepatitis viruses --- poor

appetite, jaundice, low-grade fever, and pain in the right upper quadrant Hepatitis A Symptoms are often nonspecific, mild or flu-like Transmitted thru fecal-oral route rinking water contaminated with sewage, eating uncooked food washed in this water, shellfish harvested in the water! oral se"! #lood transfusion Incu#ation $time #%t e"posure and onset of s"& '-( weeks )irus found in feces up to ' weeks #%* s" occur and the week following the onset of s" #ut may #e as long as + months ,,most contagious during this time Takes * weeks for the #ody to develop anti#odies to -A) $anti--A)& Serum immunoglo#ulin . $Ig.& --- seen in acute phase ---declines a#out + months after e"posure Serum Immunoglo#ulin / $Ig/& ---slower to peak ---remain elevated years after e"posure ---immune against further infection #y -A) 0o long-term damage 1ashing hands is a method of prevention for hepatitis A 2ound in various locations in Africa Hepatitis B .ost commonly transmitted via #lood and #ody fluids, #ut can also #e transmitted via inanimate o#jects #ecause the virus can live for up to a week on surfaces I) drug user

Hepatitis C

Prodromal stage 3egins ' weeks after e"posure 2atigue, joint pain, and lack of appetite, fever .ild constant a#dominal pain is sometimes present, #ut not severe a#dominal pain

Icteric stage 3egins 4 to 56 days after the initial flulike symptoms .ight develop jaundice 7aundice and dark urine that results from jaundice occur in the icteric phase

Convalescent phase 3egins ' to + weeks after the symptoms #egin, and recovery may take up to 5( weeks

Cirrhosis 8atients with ascites may have difficulty with #reathing due to the si9e of the a#domen: Initial response is for the nurse to evaluate the respiratory status Avoid processed foods, such as cheese, canned soups, and packaged meats ;an eat raw fruit, vegeta#les, and pasta #ecause the dietary restrictions will involve sodium and fluids, as wellhigh protein

8revent liver cancer is #y not drinking alcohol, not smoking, and avoiding high-risk #ehaviors that increase the chances of contracting hepatitis 3 and ;