Mosquitoes Inject Saliva, Not Blood

Because hepatitis B and hepatitis C are spread by contact with infected blood, it's very tempting to think of mosquitoes as flying hypodermic needles. However, the "needle" that mosquitoes feed with, called the proboscis, is actually a complex structure that has separate channels. When a mosquito bites, it injects saliva through one channel. The saliva functions as a lubricant to help the mosquito feed easier. The blood it sucks as a meal flows in a completely separate channel and only in one direction: toward the mosquito. So, it's biologically unlikely for infected blood to be spread to another person.

Why Mosquitoes Don't Spread Hepatitis

It's a beautiful day and you're outside enjoying the fresh air. You feel a small prick on your arm and notice that a mosquito is getting a free meal. Without realizing, you kill it with a quick slap of your hand, but notice a little blood on your arm where the mosquito was. Along with the nuisance of a mosquito bite, you might be worried about possible infections you can catch, including hepatitis.
It's intuitive to think that when a mosquito bites someone infected and then bites another person, the second person could be exposed to viral hepatitis. Fortunately, viral hepatitis isn't spread from mosquitoes.

Tylenol Cause Liver Damage

Tylenol, generically called acetaminophen, is a very popular and effective drug for pain relief and reducing fever. Because it's so well known (it's been available since the 1950s) and it's so common (it's widely combined with other medications), it's sometimes used carelessly which can lead to liver damage.

Is Tylenol Safe?

Yes, Tylenol is very safe when used as recommended. Many people with chronic hepatitis and other types of liver disease (who don't regularly drink alcohol) can safely take the recommended doses of Tylenol; however, you should definitely check with your physician before taking any medication if you have liver disease. For people with advanced cirrhosis (decompensated cirrhosis), Tylenol probably can't be used because of the serious existing liver damage. If you have serious liver disease, talk to your doctor about appropriate dosing and best alternatives for treatment of pain or fevers.

Why Is the Liver Affected by Tylenol?

Tylenol is quickly absorbed into the blood through the gastrointestinal tract. Once in the blood stream, it begins to relieve pain by increasing you're body's overall threshold to pain and it reduces fever by helping to get rid of excess heat. Ultimately, the blood filters through the liver where most of the drug is metabolized (broken down) and its components are excreted in the urine.

Diagnosing Autoimmune Hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis is diagnosed using blood tests and liver biopsy. The blood tests look for a variety of auto-antibodies, which are similar in ways to normal antibodies except they attack the body's own cells and tissues. For type 1, the most common circulating auto-antibodies are antinuclear antibodies (ANA). A more specific, but less prevalent auto-antibody (as compared to ANA) is the anti-smooth muscle antibody (ASMA). For type 2, the major auto-antibodies are called anti-liver-kidney microsomal-1 antibodies (ALKM-1 and ALC-1), but these are usually only found in children. Circulating levels of immunoglobulins are generally high in autoimmune hepatitis. A liver biopsy helps to confirm diagnosis and determine the degree of liver damage. Imaging tests, such as ultrasound or CT (computerized tomography) also may help detect the presence of cirrhosis, which can be caused by autoimmune hepatitis.

Autoimmune Hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis is chronic liver inflammation that's caused by the body's malfunctioning immune system. The same important process that identifies harmful invading bacteria and viruses and protects your body from them somehow becomes altered to attack and damage your liver cells. Why this begins isn't completely understood, but the leading theory is that it's triggered by some drug or infection in people who have inherited a trait that makes them more likely to develop an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune hepatitis, if untreated, can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Who's at Risk for Autoimmune Hepatitis?

About 70 percent of people with the disease are women, usually between the ages of 15 and 40. However, autoimmune hepatitis is an uncommon disease.

Living With Hepatitis

Perhaps your first reactions are disbelief and fear. While these are understandable responses to unpleasant news, hepatitis, even in its chronic form, is a treatable disease. With proper treatment and good lifestyle choices, it is possible to live a full and active life. For many people, the treatment goal in chronic hepatitis is to prevent the development of cirrhosis of the liver. Doctors do this by controlling the effects of hepatitis with medications. However, medicine is only one part of the therapy. Living with hepatitis involves some minor lifestyle changes. The good news is that these changes can be wonderfully beneficial to your entire body and mind, in addition to your liver. Let's start with the basics of nutrition.

What You Should Eat and Drink

The liver is a major organ of metabolism and is responsible for removing toxins in the body from the food we ingest. One of the safest dietary practices for someone with a diseased liver is to avoid additional toxins such as alcohol, alternative remedies that are unknown to science and all recreational drugs. It is important to realize that all these are processed as toxins by the liver and can be especially dangerous to one that is damaged. Even prescribed medications are of concern and doctors will probably require additional blood tests to monitor liver functions when these medications are required.

How Hepatitis C Spreads

Needlestick Injuries in Healthcare

Nurses and physicians, and other technicians who routinely use needles while providing medical care, are at risk for needlestick injuries. In fact, it's estimated that more than 600,000 needlestick injuries happen each year, with nurses being at most risk. An average of about 2 percent of needlestick injuries where there has been exposure to the virus will result in acute hepatitis C.

Blood Transfusion

In the past, blood transfusion was a common way hepatitis C was spread. People who had hemophilia or thalassemia (or some other disease requiring multiple transfusions) were especially at risk for exposure. However, now it is very rare because donated blood is tested for HCV antibodies and also HCV genetic material. Experts believe that your chances today of getting hepatitis C from a blood transfusion is about one in 2 million.

Mother-Infant Transmission

Since only about 4 percent of infants born to mothers with hepatitis C will be infected with the virus, this type of spread (known as vertical spread) is relatively uncommon. However, the risk nearly doubles if the mother is co-infected with HIV. Also, the chance of spreading HCV at birth is probably more likely if the mother has a higher viral load at the time of delivery.