Hepatitis
- inflammation of the liver
- impedes processes and function of the liver
- prevalent throughout the world
- acute or chronic
- mild or life threatening
Hepatitis generally results from…
underlying infectious agent or virus
Hepatitis inflammatory process
- damages hepatic cells
- disrupts liver function
What causes Hepatitis
- virus, toxin, other pathogen*
- alcohol or drug abuse
Risk Factors of Hepatitis
- autoimmune disorders
- alcoholism
- contaminated food, water
- infected blood
- sexual contact with contaminated blood, body fluids
Can manifest with…
no or nonspecific symptoms OR debilitating symptoms
Incubation Phase
- usually asymptomatic for acute hepatitis
- HBeAg in blood indicates high degree of HBV infection
- As incubation progresses, HBeAg appears
What are the 3 phases after the incubation phase?
- Prodromal Phase
- Icteric Phase
- Convalescent Phase
Prodromal Phase
occurs between exposure to virus and appearance of clinical manifestations
- jaundice
- nausea
- vomiting
- malaise
- fatigue
- mild RUQ pain
- fever
Icteric Phase
beings 5 to 10 days after initial symptoms manifest
Convalescent Phase
follows 2 to 3 weeks of acute illness
Tx of Hepatitis
- primarily supportive
- proper nutrition (may need to increase protein)
- avoid alcohol
*Most clients with acute hepatitis recover without pharm tx
Client Education
- prevention
- long term management
- address risky behaviors
What shows extent of liver impairment
- ALT
- ALP
- LDH
- AST
- GGT
- Serum bilirubin
- Liver biopsy
Medications available
- vaccines
- immune globulin
- interferon alpha
- antiretroviral drugs
Nursing priority for Hepatitis
- alleviate symptoms
- provide client education regarding nutrition and lifestyle management
Physical Assessment for Hepatitis
- abdominal, epigastric pain
- N/V, anorexia
- fever, joint pain, malaise, jaundice
- assess for infection transmission and nutritional status
Nursing Diagnosis for Hepatits may include…
- imbalanced nutrition
- risk for impaired skin integrity
- infection
- fatigue
- knowledge deficit
- nausea
Nursing goals may include…
- relieving discomfort
- preventing spread of infection
- teaching long term management of hepatitis
Nursing interventions may include..
- assessing meds taken to reduce pain and fever
- encouraging client to eat healthy diet, follow nutritionists recommendations
- instructing client to wear cool, lightweight clothes, use cool water for bathing
- preventing spread of infection
- encourage rest
- fatigue level to determine resumption of activities
