Hepatitis B Symptoms
Symptoms of Hepatitis B and How These Occurr
Hepatitis B is characterized by a variety of symptoms. These symptoms can actually start from mild to severe. Of course, once you are conscious of this condition, you have to learn how the symptoms of hepatitis happen.
Since there an invasion of virus of Hepatitis B, there will be increase in the temperature of the body. Once the HBV entered the body, there will be stimulation of the temperature regulating center of the brain which is the hypothalamus. When this part of the brain was triggered, there will be elevated body temperature. This is a mechanism of the body to alert the immune system that there is an invasion of microorganism in human system.
Easy fatigability will also be noted in a person who has hepatitis B. The liver is primarily the site for glycogenesis. This is the process in which the sugar in the body is metabolized and released to sustain body movements. This implies that when Hepatitis B is present, there will be alteration in the release of sugar. Thus, there will be decrease in the ability of the cells to produce ATP. Decrease in ATP production brought by alteration in glycogenesis will not supply the cell with the fuel that they need for energy production. A person will now suffer easy fatigability.
Bleeding tendencies may also be noticed in people who are affected by Hepatitis B. One of the most vital functions of liver is the capability to provide clotting factors which is necessary in the prevention of bleeding. Since your liver is compromised when you are affected by Hepatitis B, there is a great tendency that you will suffer from easy bleeding even if you have just sustained minor cuts. There are also some people with Hepatitis B who are suffering from easy bruising.
GI symptoms may also be noted in people who are suffering from Hepatitis B. Examples of these symptoms are vomiting, nausea as well as loss of appetite. The digestive system symptoms appear because of the involvement of the liver in the process of digestion. The liver primarily secretes bile which is needed in the emulsification of fats.
The pathognomonic sign of Hepatitis B is jaundice. This was said to be the pathognomonic sign of this disease because this symptom is merely seen in common diseases. Jaundice is alternatively known by the term icterus. When we say jaundice, this is basically the yellow discoloration of the skin. Usually, the white part of the eye which is called sclera becomes yellowish in this case. Aside from the skin and the sclera, the mucous membrane of the person with Hepatitis B also possesses yellowish discoloration. Usually, the red blood cells have a life span of 120 days. After this life span, they are usually damaged. The membranes of the red blood cells rupture. When the red blood cells reached the reticuloendothelial system, these then rupture. The cellular contents of the red blood cells like hemoglobin are then being released in the blood. When these are released in the blood, these will be eaten by the macrophages and will be broken down into globin and heme. These are now the substances that cause yellowish discoloration in the patients with Hepatitis B.