Hepatitis A Disease – Learn how to Protect your Liver from Infection

Symptoms

Not everyone who is infected with Hepatitis A experience symptoms. Adults are more likely to show symptoms than children, and those below 6 typically don’t have any symptoms. However, symptoms can include the following:

• Fever

• Loss of appetite

• Weakness and fatigue

• Diarrhoea

• Nausea, vomiting

• Pain in the abdomen

• Itchy skin

• Jaundice or yellowing of skin and eyes

• Joint pain

• Light-coloured stools and dark-coloured urine

Hepatitis A Transmission

Hepatitis A virus can spread in the following ways:

• By eating food that is prepared or handled by someone who has been infected with Hepatitis A virus

• By consuming food prepared in unhygienic conditions

• Eating foods washed with contaminated water

• Drinking polluted or contaminated water

• Consuming raw shellfish harvested from sewage-contaminated water

• By coming in close contact with someone who has the virus

• Having sex with someone who has contracted the virus

Risk Factors

Certain factors which can increase the risk of getting Hepatitis A are:

• Living with someone who has Hepatitis A infection

• Travelling to countries where the incidence of hepatitis A is high

• People with HIV

• People with chronic liver disease such as Hepatitis B and C

• Poor sanitation

• Lack of safe drinking water

• Close contact with a person who has the Hepatitis A virus

• Working with primates

• Having sex with an infected person

• Sex between men

• Use or inject recreational drugs

Diagnosis

Based on your signs and symptoms, the doctor will ask you to do a blood test to confirm s most people with hepatitis A do not have any symptoms hence it’s difficult to make a diagnosis through physical examination. So, a blood test is done to confirm whether or not the person has been infected with the virus.

Treatment

As the virus usually goes away on its own, there is no specific treatment. The doctor will prescribe treatment options basically focused on managing the symptoms such as:

• Take a good amount of rest till the symptoms subside, as people with Hepatitis A infection often feel sick, fatigued, and have less energy than usual.

• Keep yourself hydrated with plenty of fluids, including juices, smoothies, broths, etc.

• Maintain a balanced and healthy diet. If you feel nauseous, it’s better to go for snacks or smaller meals during the day instead of full meals. Include more high-calorie foods in your daily diet.

• Avoid alcohol when you are infected with Hepatitis A, as it can damage your liver. This is because it’s difficult for the liver to handle medications and alcohol when there is a virus in your body. Talk to your doctor if you are taking any other medications.

However, in some cases, medications may be prescribed to reduce the symptoms. It’s advisable not to take any OTC medicines without consulting your doctor.

Prevention

Some ways you can protect yourself from Hepatitis A infection are:

1. Get inoculated with Hepatitis A vaccine. If you need to travel to a country where cases of Hepatitis A are high, take the vaccine at least 2 weeks before your travel. If you come in contact with an infected person, you can go for a vaccine shot within 2 weeks.

2. Practice hand hygiene, such as washing your hands thoroughly before preparing food or eating and after using the restroom or changing your baby’s diapers.

3. Avoid meeting or being in close contact with people who are infected with the virus.

4. Avoid consuming raw fruits and vegetables, particularly from places with low hygienic standards.