Prevention of Hepatitis A

The best way to prevent hepatitis A is to be vaccinated. The vaccine has been available since the 1990s, and health experts recommend it for travelers going to Africa, Asia, Central and South America, or Eastern Europe. Healthcare providers may encourage patients with certain allergic conditions and pregnant women to avoid the vaccine.
If you aren't vaccinated, the best ways to prevent hepatitis A infection are by practicing good sanitation and hygiene and avoiding contaminated food and water, especially when traveling in countries where hepatitis A is common.
Taking immunoglobulin (a protein that fights infection) will help keep you from getting sick if you have been exposed to hepatitis A virus during an outbreak.

 

Resource:  www.niaid.nih.gov

Treatment of Hepatitis A

There are no medicines for treating hepatitis A after you get infected. If you have a mild case, your healthcare provider will probably prescribe rest, plenty of fluids, and a nutritious diet. While your body fights hepatitis A, you should avoid any medicines—over-the-counter or prescribed—that could damage your liver. You should also avoid alcohol during the recovery period, because alcohol also may damage your liver.

 

Resource:  www.niaid.nih.gov

Diagnosis of Hepatitis A

Healthcare providers review symptoms and can diagnose hepatitis A with a blood test, which will reveal the presence of antibodies to hepatitis A virus.

 

Resource:  www.niaid.nih.gov

Symptoms of Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A does not always cause obvious symptoms. Some people may experience mild symptoms lasting 1 to 2 weeks, while others will have more severe symptoms that can last for several months. Generally, the severity of the illness increases with age, which is why children infected with the hepatitis A virus usually do not show any symptoms. Symptoms of hepatitis A include the following:

• Jaundice
• Fatigue
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Dark urine

Symptoms can appear anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks after exposure. However, it’s important to note that infected people are contagious up to 2 weeks before they show any symptoms at all.

 

Resource:  www.niaid.nih.gov

Transmission of Hepatitis A

People become infected with hepatitis A when they orally ingest the fecal matter—even just microscopic traces—of infected individuals. This usually happens in one of two ways:

• Close contact with an infected person who has not washed his or her hands after using the bathroom
• Consuming food or water contaminated with the virus, usually caused by food handlers who are infected and do not thoroughly wash their hands or who wash food with contaminated water

Hepatitis A is common in certain areas of the world where there is poor sanitation. Several outbreaks in the United States and elsewhere have also been associated with injecting and non-injecting drug use.

Resource:  www.niaid.nih.gov