Hepatitis A is a liver disease that is extremely contagious. It is due to the virus of hepatitis A. It is only one of the viruses to make your liver swell up so that it stops working properly. You mostly get hepatitis A through food or dirty water or by being in close contact with someone or something that is already infected with the disease. In case you have a mild hepatitis A condition you will not require medicine. Majority of those who are afflicted end up being fully cured and their liver is not damaged permanently. For more research you can also visit World Health Organization.
What are the Symptoms of Hepatitis A?
The hepatitis A symptoms tend to appear after several weeks of your getting the virus. Not all the people who have it will however feel sick.
- In case you have them, they may consist in:
- Asleep it is and like to die
- Suddenly getting nauseous or diarrhea or vomiting
- Hurting or aching in your stomach, mostly on your upper right, over your liver
- Light coloured stools as clay or gray stools
- I do not feel like eating
- Dark pee
- Hurting joints
- Fever
- Turning of your skin and the whites of your eyes yellow (jaundice)
- Bad itching
These symptoms can be mild and could clear off after several weeks. However, there are other instances when hepatitis A may lead to the development of a severe condition that may take more than a few months.
The Way You Catch Hepatitis A:
The hepatitis A is infected by a type of virus that kills the liver cells in your body thus causing your liver to swell. This swelling may prevent your liver to operate properly and there are other symptoms of hepatitis A. Transmission takes place when the virus is passed on by very small pieces of infected poop going in the mouth of another person. This may occur when you come in contact with infected poop by consuming or ingesting something contaminated. You can as well contract it through a close contact with an infected person. Even the virus is able to exist on virgin surfaces to more than a few months! Don not worry, you cannot get hepatitis A by touching or communicating with a person casually, such as being in the room with them, or by sneezing or coughing.
The Following are Some of the Normal Methods Through Which the Hepatitis A Virus is Transmitted:
- Consuming food contaminated by a virus carrier that did not wash his or her hands properly after visiting the bathroom.
- Consuming food which had been washed with polluted water.
- Consumption of raw shellfish in sewage contaminated water.
- Having a close contact with a person who is infected with the virus, even though they are not showing any symptoms at the moment.
- Being sexually involved with an infected person.
Who has Greater Chances of Being Infected with Hepatitis A
There is a greater chance of contracting the hepatitis A virus in case you fit any of the following criteria:
- You live or you work in an area of the world that hepatitis A is endemic.
- You share a house with a hepatitis A victim.
- You are a man that engages in sexual contact with other men.
- You engage in any form of sexual activities with a person with hepatitis A.
- You are positive with HIV.
- You are a propertyless person.
- Even when you do not inject it, you take recreational drugs.
What Can go Wrong with Hepatitis A
Positive news: unlike certain other varieties of hepatitis, hepatitis A generally does not result in permanent injury of the liver as well as end up being a chronic (permanent) infection. But in extremely unusual instances, hepatitis A can result in a sudden and intense departure of the liver functionality. This is referred to as acute liver failure and it is more predisposed amongst the older or individuals that may already have developed long lasting liver diseases. In case one acquires acute liver failure, he/she shall be kept under close supervision and care in the hospital. It is even possible that some patients who have this severe complication require a liver transplant.
Prevention of Hepatitis A
The virus can be prevented by hepatitis A vaccine. The vaccine usually occurs in two dosages. There is the first shot followed by booster shot after six months. The hepatitis A dose may be administered in a combination with hepatitis B dose. This combination vaccine is administered in 3 doses that is spread throughout 6 months. The following individuals should be vaccinated to hepatitis A based on recommendations by the center of disease control and prevention:
- Every child at the age or 1 year and other children that would have not received the childhood vaccine
- Every person from the age of 1 to older can be a homeless person
- Children between 6-11 months of age going to some of the regions where hepatitis A thrives
- Family and carers of foreign-born adoptees in hepatitis A endemic countries
- Individuals who are in direct contact with other carriers of it
- Laboratory workers that can be exposed to it
- Men with homosexual sex
- Individuals going or visiting work in regions of the globe that are used to
- The individuals who take any form of recreational drugs and not necessarily injected ones
- Individuals who have incurred chronic liver disease(hepatitis B or C)
- Anyone who wants to get any protection (immunity)
Safe Travelling: How to Avoid Hepatitis A
These are some key measures to follow in case you are going to areas where there is prevalence of hepatitis A:
- Personally love fruits and vegetables by use of bottled water. Avoid buying cut-up fruits and vegetables.
- Avoid meat and fish that looks raw or under cooked.
- Buy bottle water and then brush your teeth using them.
- Don not consume anything that is not sure clean i.e. drinks and ice.
- When you cannot buy bottled water, boil tap water and drink it or use the water in manufacturing ice.
The Way Doctors Diagnose Hepatitis A
Doctors use blood tests to determine whether one has hepatitis A or not. They will prick a little drop of blood (most often they will do it through a vein on your arm) and submit it to a lab for examination. The sure way, however, is checking out a specific indicator in your blood known as HAV-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies. When you are infected with a recent hepatitis A infection, such antibodies occur. In other cases, the RNA of the virus can be detected by more specialized tests, such as reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), which however require special laboratory equipment.
Your symptoms could include the following visible signs of hepatitis A:
- Discoloration of your body (yellowing of your skin and eyes)
- The enlargement of the liver
- Enlarged splenomegaly
But it is not until they perform blood test; doctors will not know whether it is hepatitis A or what kind of virus it is. The presence of certain substances will be searched in this blood test. Liver enzymes will indicate the high level (liver problem) as revealed by liver functions tests. Then a hepatitis panel will be used to check your blood to see the presence of certain antibodies and these antibodies will identify to them where which hepatitis virus you are infected with.
Treatment of Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A has no particular medicine to treat it. The virus will usually be self-defeated by your body. In the majority of incidences, your liver will recover in six months with no residual damages. Heptatitis A treatment is commonly aiming at your comfort and reducing your symptoms. You might have to:
- Take plenty of rest.
- Consume adequate foods and beverages.
- Stay away from alcohol and be alarmed about drugs that may pose implications on your liver.
FAQ’s:
A Risk Factors for Hepatitis A?
Your chances of getting hepatitis A are more likely to happen:
- Visiting places where it is a norm.
- Live with an infected person.
- Are men who like sex with men.
- Get sex with a person that has it.
- HIV positive.
- Are homeless.
- Take recreational drugs (injection or not).
- Suffer with chronic liver disease.
- Direct contact with infected poop (e.g. infected food/water or direct personal contact).
The Symptoms of Hepatitis A?
The symptoms of exposure to Hepatitis A, which appear shortly after exposure a few weeks later can be:
- ails like unusual fatigue and weakness (fatigue)
- Violent nausea; and vomiting.
- Diarrhea
- Pain or discomfort of the abdomen, particularly in the upper right (over the liver)
- Loss of hunger
- Fever
- Joint pain
What is the Cost of Hepatitis A test Price?
In Pakistan, Hepatitis A (HAV) IgM antibody test (to show of recent infection) costs anywhere between PKR 2480 and PKR 3100. Prices may be different in different cities and in different labs. There are websites that can provide a discount on such tests. In order to feel confident about the pricing of the local diagnostic labs, it is useful to make inquiry about the prevailing prices.
Hepatitis a Travel Precautions?
Visiting the region of risk of Hepatitis A:
- Good hand hygiene practice: Wash hands face down with soap and water before eating and after going to the restroom.
- Watch what you eat and drink:
- Drink bottled water (also when brushing teeth).
- Drinks to avoid ice cubes.
- Consume nothing that is not well cooked.
- Raw or undercooked meat and fish is to be avoided.
- Cut your fruits and vegetables yourself after cleaning them with bottled water; do not buy cut vegetables and fruits.
- Keep away from possible infected people.
How long does Hepatitis A take to Recover?
Majorities of patients having Hepatitis A become healed within two months. But in some individuals, particularly those with immune systems that are mildly convalescent, the symptoms may run on longer, as many as six months or in some cases do remerge briefly (relapse).
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