Ascites
Ascites is the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen or peritoneal cavity. Ascites occurs when pressure in the portal vein becomes elevated in patients with cirrhosis of the liver
The abdomen is swollen if a large amount of fluid is present.
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Cirrhosis of the liver
Cirrhosis of the liver occurs in 5-20% of the patients within 10-20 years following infection. The likelihood of cirrhosis is lower in women and in patients who have become infected at an early age. The use of alcohol as well as co-infection with hepatitis B and HIV accelerate the process.
By
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Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is caused by the hepatitis A virus. Hepatitis A never develops into a chronic infection. Nowadays, the disease is mostly seen in countries characterized by poor sanitary facilities and inferior hygienic conditions.
In the Netherlands, minor epidemics occur in
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Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B causes inflammation of the liver which results from infection with the hepatitis B virus. The nature of this infection may be more or less severe. Worldwide about 400 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B.
In the Netherlands, approximately 30,000-60,000 people
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Hepatitis B - Chronic hepatitis B
If HBsAg has been demonstrated in the blood for longer that six months the condition is referred to as chronic hepatitis B. In the case of chronic infection, the virus is not eliminated from the body. The patient, therefore, remains contagious. The hepatitis B virus causes a long-lasting
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Hepatitis B - serology
Blood tests can be used to determine whether a patient is suffering from an acute, a chronic active or a chronic inactive hepatitis B infection. The blood is tested for particles of the virus that can be demonstrated in the blood in the various stages of the disease and the tests are carried
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Hepatitis C
The hepatitis C virus was discovered in 1989. Hepatitis C is one of the most common forms of chronic infection of the liver.
Worldwide approximately 200 million people are infected (3% of the population of the world). It is estimated that 350,000 people annually die as a
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How might hepatitis B affect me and my family?
If you catch hepatitis B, there are several possible outcomes, as shown in factsheet
nr 3 How might hepatitis B affects me
nr 8 How will it affect my family, friends and community life
nr 10 Living with treatment and disease monitoring
nr 11 Treatment adherence and
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How will I know if I have hepatitis B?
Many people do not have symptoms (this is called being ‘asymptomatic’) so you may not know, unless you are tested, that you have hepatitis B.
Read factsheet How will I know if I have hepatitis B
From: Path B - My journey with chronic hepatitis B. For more information visit
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The poorly functioning liver
There are many different liver diseases that may result from congenital abnormalities or metabolic disorders or be caused by viruses, bacteria, drugs, alcohol, auto-immune diseases, injuries or tumors.
If the liver ceases to function properly, malfunctions of the metabolism invariably occur.
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Variceal hemorrhage
When the pressure in the portal vein becomes elevated (e.g. due to cirrhosis of the liver) varices develop in the stomach and the esophagus.
If these varices start to bleed, the patient will vomit clear blood and the colour of the faeces will become increasingly dark.
Following a hemorrhage,
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What is the liver and how does it work?
The liver is a large and important organ. In adults the liver is as big as a football and weighs about 1,500 grams. Supported by a capsule of connective tissue, the liver is situated behind the ribs in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen
In humans the liver is of vital importance, being the
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