Young People's Guide to
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
and AIDS/HIV Disease
- Index of images
- Complete list of STDs
- Short STD guide in various languages
- Reproductive anatomy Diagrams
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Message to parents
- Anatomy of the sex organs
- Physiology of the sex organs
- STDs
- How to check yourself for STDs
- AIDS
- How to prevent getting STDs and AIDS
- How to use a condom
HEPATITIS
Summary
- A serious virus disease affecting the liver.
- May cause fever, abdominal pain, fatigue, yellowing of the eyes and skin, and darkening
of the urine.
- Treated by rest.
What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis is a disease that affects the liver. The liver is a body organ located in the abdomen and has many functions. It is like a little chemical factory and many of the bodies chemicals are made there. It is very useful in the digestion of food and also helps to get rid of waste products of the body. When the liver gets infected, many body functions become affected.
What causes hepatitis?
The are at least five viruses that cause hepatitis and it can also be caused by other factors such as poisons and alcohol. This online book will concentrate on the viruses that cause hepatitis and can be spread sexually. These viruses are hepatitis B and hepatitis C and possibly types D and E. It should be emphasized that these can also be transmitted by other means besides by sex.
What are the symptoms of hepatitis?
Hepatitis usually starts out with a fever, tiredness and muscle aches. Loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain are common. The classic symptoms of hepatitis are a darkening of the urine and a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes.
When do symptoms appear?
Depending on the type of hepatitis, symptoms may appear in 15 to 45 days (hepatitis A) or as long as six months (hepatitis B) after exposure to the virus.
How is hepatitis diagnosed?
There are blood tests that can show the inflammation of the liver and there are blood tests that can test for the presence of hepatitis antibodies. These antibodies are chemicals that your body makes to fight the hepatitis germs.
Are there possible complications of hepatitis?
Yes. First of all hepatitis itself can have a very intense course and people have been known to be very sick with it and die. Although hepatitis usually clears up by itself, it is possible to develop a chronic hepatitis which means that you will have it for years in your body. You are not usually sick with it for years but you may be able to infect others during this time. Having hepatitis B can also make a person more likely to get a cancer of the liver in the future.
How is hepatitis treated?
There is no medicine that will cure hepatitis but fortunately it is a self-limited illness and it resolves itself in a few days or weeks. There is currently a vaccine for hepatitis A and B and there are also other medicines that can be given to those exposed to hepatitis to help them prevent getting it.