Question

Vijaya Reddy is a college student who visited relatives near her parents’ birthplace in Anantapur, India, during summer vacation. Although her relatives provided boiled or purified water at their home, they occasionally took Vijaya to local restaurants, where she drank tap water. Several weeks after Vijaya returned home, she developed flu-like symptoms and started feeling extremely tired. She also experienced upper abdominal pain and felt nauseous after meals. After her roommate told her that her eyes and skin appeared yellow, she knew something was definitely wrong. A physician at the student health center diagnosed hepatitis.

1. Which type of hepatitis did Vijaya most likely have?

2. What additional symptoms may develop?

3. Is Vijaya’s condition likely to become chronic?

4. What medical treatment is suggested for Vijaya’s condition?

5. Describe the dietary modifications that may be necessary in some cases.

Answer 1

1. Hepatitis A

It is viral disease transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food and water. Here patient has the history of ingestion of water in restaurant following flu, abdominal pain.

2Additional symptoms :Anorexia, diarrhoea, dark colored urine, malaise, lethargy, arthralgia, irritability, pruritis due to salt accumulation in the skin.

3.No specific treatment for hepatitis A. Most important to avoid unnecessary medication such as paracetamol, chlorpromazine, aspirin and sedative should be avoided because of their hepatotoxic properties.

Therapy aimed at maintaining comfort and nutritional balance, replacement of fluids.

If pruritis, antihistamines, cholestyramine, antihistamines, emollient and lipid cream may be prescribed.

4. Dietary modification :low fat, high carbohydrates high calorie diet more easily digested and more palatable.