Hepatitis A is an infectious disease of the liver.

Synonym:

Jaundice, Hepatitis

Cause:

Hepatitis A virus (HAV).

Spread:

It is usually spread by eating food or drinking water contaminated with infected feces.

It may also be spread through close contact with an infectious person.

While children often do not have symptoms when infected, they are still able to infect others.

Shell-fish which have not been sufficiently cooked are a relatively common source.

It is more common in regions of the world with poor sanitation and not enough safe water.

After a single infection, a person is immune for the rest of his or her life.

Signs and symptoms:

In many cases, persons have few or no symptoms.

Symptoms typically appear 2 to 6 weeks with an average of 28 days, after the initial infection.

Early symptoms of ‘Hepatitis A’ infection, especially in children, exhibit no symptoms at all. 90% of the children do not have symptoms.

The symptoms are directly related to age.

More than 80% of the adults having symptoms are compatible with acute viral hepatitis.

Symptoms are usually last less than 2 months, although some people can be ill for as long as 6 months.

Around 10–15% of people experience a recurrence of symptoms during the six months after the initial infection. Young children who are infected with ‘Hepatitis A’ typically have a milder form of the disease, usually lasting from 1–3weeks, whereas adults tend to experience a much more severe form of the disease.

Fatigue, Milled to moderate Fever, Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Jaundice and Abdominal pain and discomfort, Appetite loss, Yellowing of the skin etc.

Urine is dark amber colored. Diarrhea- Light or Clay-cultured faces.

Acute liver failure may rarely occur, with this being more common in the elderly.

Diagnosis:

It requires pathology lab. Tests of Blood and urine. These tests are to be done repeatedly to check the intensity of disease.

Treatment:

There is no specific treatment for ‘Hepatitis A’ disease. With rest and medications for nausea or diarrhea recommended on an as-needed basis.

Therapy is aimed at maintaining comfort and adequate nutritional balance, including replacement of fluids that are loss from vomiting and diarrhea.

Recovery from symptoms following infection may be slow and may take several weeks or months.

Infections usually resolve completely and without ongoing liver disease.

Treatment of acute liver failure, if it occurs, is with liver transplantation.

Prevention:

Preventive measures are includes hand washing and also properly clean, wash cooking foods as well.

The best and very easy way to prevent our self from

‘Hepatitis A’ disease is, to take two doses of Hepatitis A vaccine. ‘Hepatitis A vaccine’ is very much effective for prevention

against ‘Hepatitis A’ (Jaundice).

Two doses of ‘Hepatitis A vaccines’ are effective for long life.

‘Hepatitis A Vaccine’ is provide active immunity against a future infection of Hepatitis-A.

This vaccine is protects against ‘Hepatitis A Virus’ in more than 95% of cases for longer than 25 to 30 years approx.

The vaccine is given by injection.

An initial dose provides protection starting two to four weeks after vaccination; the second booster dose, given six to 12 months later, provides protection for more than 25 to 30 years approx.

‘World Hepatitis Day’ occurs each year on July 28 to bring awareness to viral hepatitis.

So ‘BE HEALTHY LIVE HEALTHY’ in monsoon season.

‘PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE’