All About Positive Health

Hydatid disease is caused by Echinococcus Granulosus. These larva remain in the muscle tissue of animals. The undercooked or uncooked flesh if taken, may cause the disease. These larva migrate from the intestine of human beings and gets lodged into the liver. They can form cysts there or may go to any other location and from cyst. The common sites of cyst formation are; liver, lungs, spleen and abdomen etc..These take time to grow in size and exert pressure on the neighborhood to manifest. So, depending on the site, the symptoms may vary. It gives rise to severe allergic reaction, if the contents leak into abdominal cavity and other places. The anaphylaxis may cause death. Sometimes the spill over may cause daughter cysts to develop in the vicinity to spread the disease.

The diagnosis is much more easy now-a-days in the advent of ultrasound. Plain x-rays are also helpful. A Test called Casoni’s test, may not be needed to-day. Small cysts can be treated by antihelminthics like albendazole or mebendazole. Surgical enucleation done with utmost care, prevent spillage and, is the choice for the bigger cysts.

CT Of Liver Showing Hydatid Cysts

Food grains such as groundnuts,maizes and parboiled rice may get infested with fungus.This, if occurs because of Aspergillus Flavus poses a health risk.One toxin called Aflatoxin is produced by it.Aflatoxin B1 is linked to serious diseases and deaths in India .Ingesting these contaminated grains may cause serious liver disease i.e. hepatoma, a cancer of liver or cirrhosis of liver.
Increased moisture and humidity facilitates fungus growth.The food grains must be stored dried and moisture content be below 10%.If contamination is noticed the food should be discarded.

A molecule of aflatoxin.

Aflatoxin B1

Hepatocellular carcinoma

Fever,loss of appetite ,pain in upper abdomen and yellow colourization of eye balls,palms and body point to a disease loosely called jaundice.Actually jaundice is a symptom of an underlying disease.There are a number causes for it and some are age specific.Commonly it occurs due to viral hepatitis.Also there are a number of viruses affecting liver such as hepatitis virus A,B,C and many more.Amongst them most common is hepatitis A followed by hepatitis B.While the former is transmitted through contaminated food and drink the later is through contaminated blood and blood products to the blood of victim.By far the hepatitis A has the easiest mode of transmission especially in the under developed and developing countries.Supply of safe drinking water and safe raw eaten vegetables and fruits are the ways to prevent it which is very difficult to achieve in these countries. A good vaccine is available and can be taken at prescribed intervals to prevent the disease.However hepatitis A usually subsides without much of sequel.
On the other hand hepatitis B usually goes for a protracted course and may go chronic leading to cirrhosis of lever and much dreaded hepatocellular carcinoma.Potent vaccines are available to prevent it .Avoiding contaminated syringes,blood for transfusion and other blood products are also important.However in the face of complicated situation it is better to be vaccine protected .So to say the vaccine can prevent a fraction of hepatocellular carcinoma.

hepatitis A prevalence