Hepatitis A

What Causes Hepatitis A?

In order to deal properly with hepatitis A we need to understand and — if possible — remove the underlying causes and risk factors.  We need to ask: "What else is going on inside the body that might allow hepatitis A to develop?"

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Accurate diagnosis of the factors behind hepatitis A consists of three steps:

Step 1: List the Possible Causative Factors

Identify all disease conditions, lifestyle choices and environmental risk factors that can lead to hepatitis A.  Here are four possibilities:
  • Selenium Need
  • Gluten Sensitivity
  • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Immune System Imbalance

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

Identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:
hydrogenated fat consumption
recent onset abdominal pain
history of CFS diagnosis
severe allergy to chemicals
metallic taste in mouth
slightly pale stools
history of non-vaginal candidiasis
elevated basophil count
having loose stools
severe fatigue after slight exertion
diabetes in family members
occasional bowel movement changes
... and more than 50 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of hepatitis A:
Cause Probability Status
Ulcerative Colitis 92% Confirm
Immune System Imbalance 13% Unlikely
Selenium Need 0% Ruled out
Gluten Sensitivity 0% Ruled out
* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

If you indicate liver problems, The Analyst™ will ask further questions including this one:
Hepatitis A. Have you ever been diagnosed with it?
Possible responses:
→ Never had it / don't know
→ Probably had it / minor episode in the past
→ Significant episode in the past, now resolved
→ Currently infected for under 3 months
→ Currently infected for more than 3 months
Based on your response to this question, which may indicate either history of hepatitis A or hepatitis A, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:
Gluten Sensitivity / Celiac Disease

Celiac disease has long been recognized as a cause of chronic liver pathology. [Lancet 1977;2(8032): pp.270-2]

Immune System Imbalance (TH2 Dominance)

It has been suggested that an impaired TH1 immune response appears to favor chronicity of hepatitis C infections.  Whether impaired activity of the NK cells in chronic HCV infections is due to a dominance of TH2 lymphocytes remains to be seen.

Selenium Requirement

Selenium is essential for healthy immune functioning.  A large-scale study has shown that selenium supplementation reduces the incidence of viral hepatitis in selenium-deficient populations, presumably by enhancing immune function. [Yu S-Y, Li W-G, Zhu Y-J, et al. Chemoprevention trial of human hepatitis with selenium supplementation in China. Biol Trace Element Res 1989;20: pp.15-20]

Ulcerative Colitis

The immune system may trigger mild inflammation in the liver as a result of ulcerative colitis.  This problem is usually mild and goes away when the colitis is treated.

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