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?"
Accurate diagnosis of the factors behind hepatitis A consists of three steps:
Cause | Probability | Status |
---|---|---|
Ulcerative Colitis | 92% | Confirm |
Immune System Imbalance | 13% | Unlikely |
Selenium Need | 0% | Ruled out |
Gluten Sensitivity | 0% | Ruled out |
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 |
Celiac disease has long been recognized as a cause of chronic liver pathology. [Lancet 1977;2(8032): pp.270-2]
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 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]
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.