Kidney, Urinary, Gastro Intestinal, Liver

There are various causes for chronic hepatitis which are as follows: Infection from viruses such as Hepatitis A, B and C Alcohol associated Drug induced Autoimmune Among these, viral hepatitis is the most common cause, followed by alcoholic and non-alcoholic/metabolic liver disease. Metabolic liver inflammation can be due to  hemacromatosis, Wilson’s disease, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, sarcoidosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Other less common causes of hepatitis include…

Chronic hepatitis is suspected when one has typical symptoms or signs and shows abnormally high liver enzymes on routine blood tests (which may be done for other reasons too). Blood tests are usually performed to determine proper function of the liver. Such tests and physical examination help establish or exclude the diagnosis, identify the cause, and also determine the severity of liver damage. Blood tests especially serological detection of Hepatitis antigens may then be done to identify…

Injectable interferon alpha was the first therapy approved for chronic hepatitis B. Lamivudine was the first approved oral nucleoside analogue for viral hepatitis. For drug induced hepatitis, the etiological drug is withdrawn and usage is stopped immediately. In case of alcoholic hepatitis, first-line treatment is discontinuation of alcohol.

Hepatitis in general terms is liver inflammation, which can be caused by viruses and other factors such as alcohol, drugs or genetic disorders. Below are the various types of hepatitis: ⦁    Hepatitis A – Hepatitis A virus is found in the feces of an infected person. It spreads through contaminated food and water. It resolves with time and does not cause chronic liver disease.  ⦁    Hepatitis B – Hepatitis B spreads through infectious body fluids such as…

Lifestyle Recommendations: Living with Chronic hepatitis may not affect daily activities but a high-calorie diet is recommended.  Many people develop nausea and may not be able to take food later in the day, so the bulk of intake is concentrated in the earlier hours of the day. In the acute phase of the disease, intravenous feeding may be needed if patients cannot tolerate food and have poor oral intake subsequent to nausea and vomiting. Avoid taking drugs that are metabolized by the liver…

In order to prevent hepatitis the Center for Disease Control recommends routine vaccination of all children under the age of 19 with the hepatitis B, which starts at birth and another 2 doses which can be given within 18 months of birth date. Adults can also take Hepatitis A and B vaccines if eligible or if they are at high risk.

Sujata Din, a Certified Holistic Health Coach and Certified Professional Cancer Coach based in Singapore shares two recipes of satisfying lunchtime salads that keep you full.   Salads are an excellent option for a main meal; they are jam packed with nutrients as made with lots of vegetables.  However, having a salad for lunch can at times leave you feeling hungry. The main reason a healthy salad meal leaves the stomach rumbling is because it lacks sufficient protein,…

There are 3 types of Down's syndrome based on the causes of Down's Syndrome: - Trisomy21 - Mosaic Down's Syndrome - Translocation Down's Syndrome What are the complications of Down’s syndrome? It is common for babies born with Down’s syndrome to have some health problems. Most of these problems can be treated. Problems of the heart, lungs and thyroid gland are common. Eyesight problems (crossed eyes, near- or far-sightedness, cataract) hearing loss, obstructed digestive tracts, sleep apnea and…

Today is World Kidney Day and the theme this year is ‘Kidney Disease & Children – Act Early to Prevent it’. We spoke to Dr Pankaj Deshpande, pediatric nephrologist, to apprise us about kidney disorders in children and how they can be alleviated. What are some of the common kidney diseases/disorders in children? How does it affect them? There are many kidney illnesses in children and that actually evokes surprise in a lot of people as they are quite unaware that kidney…

Managing Chronic Kidney Disease Chronic kidney disease brings a markedly increased risk of cardiovascular disease, which is a more common cause of death in these patients than renal failure. These patients often have other risk factors for heart disease, such as hyperlipidemia (increased lipid levels in blood).  Chronic Kidney Disease Diet CKD patients are kept on a special diet. The purpose of this diet is to keep the levels of electrolytes, minerals and fluid in balance. These changes…