Hepatitis A Sign and Symptom, Cause, Vaccine, treatment, Diet and Immunization

Information on Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver and is one of the most common diseases in the world. A person who has the disease passes the virus out with their faeces, and either through contact with that person or their excretions, someone else gets the infection. It can also be contracted through infected food or water. Jaundice is the term used to describe yellowed skin. The first sign of jaundice is usually in the eyes, where the white of the eye becomes progressively more yellow. The person may become unwell before the appearance of jaundice and get better while he is still very yellow. Generally, the darker the jaundice, the more severe the hepatitis.

Symptoms of hepatitis A

• Flu-likeillness
• Fever
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fatigue
• Abdominal pain
• Loss of appetite
• Darkurine
• Jaundice

The symptoms may be mild or Even go unrecognised. A person maybe infectious for two weeks after catching the infection and so can pass it on without even realizing he has the disease. Jaundice (yellowing) of the skin and The white of the eye is often a sign of liver infection such as hepatitis. The yellowing results from excessive Blood levels of the pigment bilirubin, break down product of red blood cells, which is processed in the liver.

Those at risk

• Travellers, particularly in areas where sanitation is poor, such as South America
• Homosexual men
• People living where there is currently an outbreak
• Drug users
• Those with blood clotting disorders such as haemophilia
• Those who live or work in institutions
• Workers in child day care centres

Treatment for hepatitis A

Treatment includes plenty of fluids, extra potassium and calcium and sugar. Sometimes, if clotting is a problem, a blood transfusion may be needed. Most people with symptoms recover from the worst of the disease in one or two months. In about 12 per cent of people the disease will keep recurring for up to six months.

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Health Tip

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