Hepatitis A

The term “hepatitis” refers to a family of diseases that result in liver inflammation and can be chronic and long-lasting. There are a few different types of hepatitis, all of which are viral diseases. These include Hepatitis A, B, and C. When the the liver is affected by these viruses, it cannot adequately complete its regular tasks of filtering blood, fighting infections in bodily fluids, and processing nutrients.

Interestingly, Hepatitis A is one of the oldest recorded diseases. Although it rarely causes death, it can result in a wide range of negative side effects if left untreated for a long time. In most cases, it causes uncomfortable symptoms for a period of weeks or months. Hepatitis A mostly affects people in developing countries, where poor sanitation, inadequate housing, and a lack of hygienic practices are contributing factors.

Symptoms

Someone who contracts Hepatitis A might not necessarily show symptoms. However, in cases where symptoms do develop, they usually show sometime between two and six weeks after exposure to the virus. According to WebMD, symptoms can include fever, lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting, jaundice indicated by yellow-colored skin, dark yellow urine, fatigue, abdominal pain, stool that is grey in color, and joint pain. Most of the time, adults are more likely to express symptoms of Hepatitis A than children.

Since people who have Hepatitis A can spread the disease without showing any symptoms, sometimes it can be difficult to know where it was contracted. In addition, having any of the symptoms of Hepatitis A listed above doesn’t necessarily mean that you have the virus. Your doctor can make the diagnosis.

Causes

The main route of transmission for Hepatitis A is through oral contact with infected fecal matter. That is, poor sanitation or food preparation practices can result in people ingesting the virus from the fecal matter of someone who has been infected. If this seems unlikely, you should know that it only takes a microscopic amount of the virus to cause the disease. Drinking water and inadequately-washed or cooked food are primary sources for contracting the disease, although it does most often occur in developing countries.

Take for example the instance of someone who has been infected with the disease who doesn’t properly wash his or her hands following using the bathroom. He or she can then infect someone else by touching them or their food. Transmission also occurs in health care or child care situations where someone is changing a diaper and then doesn’t adequately sanitize or wash as required. Other opportunities for transmission include anal sex and oral-anal contact.

Prevention

Hepatitis A can be prevented. There is a vaccine which is recommended for both children and travelers, in addition to those who are members of at-risk groups or have medical conditions that would be exacerbated by the disease. The vaccine is administered in two doses, both of which are injections. They should be given six months apart and are both necessary if you want to be protected from Hepatitis A in the long term.

If you haven’t been vaccinated against Hepatitis A and you think you are at risk, it is important to practice good hygiene. Caretakers, parents, health care professionals, and support workers should always wash their hands thoroughly before and after going to the toilet, after changing a diaper, or prior to preparing food. This can greatly decrease the chances of the disease spreading if someone is already infected.

Treatment

Hepatitis A is usually diagnosed through a blood sample and identification of symptoms. Although there is no regular course of treatment recommended for people who have contracted Hepatitis A, doctors often prescribe adequate rest, good nutrition and hydration. Since liver function may be compromised while the body heals, it is important to avoid consuming anything that might put extra strain on the liver, such as alcohol or foods high in fat content. Your doctor can monitor your condition in the case that it worsens. If it does, you might need to be hospitalized. In the vast majority of symptomatic cases, it takes several months before someone infected feels 100% again.