A Simple Guide to Hepatitis A

A Simple Guide to Hepatitis A
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What is Hepatitis A?
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Hepatitis A is a acute inflammatory infection of the liver which is caused by the hepatitis A virus(HAV).

How is Hepatitis A virus spread?
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The virus is excreted in faeces and transmitted through contaminated food and water. Eating shellfish, cockle shells, prawns or crabs taken from sewage-contaminated water is a common means of contracting hepatitis A.
It can also be acquired by close contact with individuals infected with the virus.
HAV causes the liver to become enlarged, inflamed and tender resulting in all the symptoms of hepatitis.
There is no chronic (long-term) infection.

What are the Symptoms of Hepatitis A?
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A person is infectious for 2-3 weeks before he or she experiences symptoms:
1.fever and joint pains

2.jaundice

3.fatigue

4.loss of appetite

5.nausea and vomiting

6.abdominal pain

7.pale coloured stools and dark urine

8.itchy skin due to irritation by the bilirubin.

During the first week of the illness he feels very sick and weak.
As the condition improves, the patient generally feels better after the first week but may requires to rest at home for 6 weeks to avoid damage to the liver.

How is the diagnosis of Hepatitis A made?
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A blood test is the best way to diagnose hepatitis A.
His hepatitis antigens are raised at the early stage but as his condition improves the antibodies become positive.

His liver function tests are also done to assess the damage to the liver.
Usually the serum bilirubin is high, liver enzymes or tramsaminase, alkaline phosphatase are raised in the acute stage of illness.
As the condition improves, these tests gradually returned to normal.

What is the Treatment of Hepatitis A?
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There are no medicines for treatment of Hepatitis A except for symptomatic treatment of symptoms.
1.Rest in bed

2.multivitamins especially vitamin B to improve the function of the liver

3.Lots of fluids

4.carbohydrate diet

5.Anti-itch creams and lotions to stop itch

Recovery is usual with very rare cases going on to cirrhosis of the liver.

What is the Prevention of Hepatitis A?
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Hepatitis A vaccination is the best protection.
It is usually given in 2 doses within 1 year.

Immune globulin can be given for short-term protection.
It is given before and within 2 weeks after coming in contact with hepatitis A virus.

The vaccine is recommended for travellers travelling to developing countries and people with chronic liver disease.

Always practice good food hygiene.
Avoid food like seafood which may be contaminated by unhygienic water.

Always wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet, before preparing and eating food.

Recovery is usual within 6 weeks.

What is the difference between Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B?
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Hepatitis A is spread through eating food contaminated with the HAV virus.
Examples include partially cooked shellfish (oysters, clams) or in situations where there is poor hygiene (food/drink/utensils contaminated with an infected person's faeces).
Most people suffer an acute episode and upon recovery have immunity to Hepatitis A.

Hepatitis B is spread by contact with blood or body/fluids of an infected person (including a carrier) or from a carrier mother to her newborn during childbirth.
Hepatitis B infection can lead to hepatitis carrier stage or chronic hepatitis which can results in liver cirrhosis or cancer.