Hep A
Hepatitis A is an infectious disease caused by Hepatovirus A (HAV). This is an acute type of hepatitis in the liver which usually requires no treatment.
This virus is normally spread by eating food or drinking water contaminated with infected feces,by having close contact with a person who is infected, from food or drinks prepared by someone who is infected, or by eating shellfish harvested from sewage/contaminated water.Once affected the virus spreads through the bloodstream to the liver where it cause swelling and inflammation.
Early symptoms of hepatitis A infection can be mistaken as influenza but some especially children show no symptoms at all.
In those who develop infection the time between infection and symptoms typically appear 2 to 6 weeks after the initial infection, with an average of 28 days.
Children under the age of 6 typically show no symptoms when they contract the virus.Adults usually develop mild symptoms. The symptoms usually last less than two months, even if some people can be ill for as long as six months.
The risk for infection is directly related to age with more than 80 percent of adults having symptoms compatible with acute viral hepatitis and the majority of children have either no symptoms or unrecognized infections.
Kids can be prevented from infection with a vaccine. The CDC recommends babies to get their first dose shortly after they are born. They will need follow-up shots when they're between 6 and 18 months old.
People who have been exposed recently and unvaccinated, should get the hepatitis A vaccine or a shot of immune globulin to prevent severe illness. Some people may need medical care in a hospital.
Hepatitis signs and symptoms can include:
Fatigue, Fever, Nausea, loss of appetite, Jaundice, Abdominal pain or discomfort, Joint pains,Diarrhea, Light, or clay-colored faeces (acholic faeces), red cell aplasia, pancreatitis and generalized lymphadenopathy .
Without visible signs of jaundice, it is hard to diagnose any form of hepatitis through a physical examination. When symptoms are not visible hepatitis A can remain undiagnosed.
There is no formal treatment for hepatitis A. As it is a short term viral infection that can go away on its own. Treatment can be typically focused on reducing the symptoms.
The symptoms of hepatitis A usually begin to improve after a few weeks of rest.
To get relief from the symptoms, one should avoid alcohol, drink plenty of water, maintain a healthy diet. Most people who are infected can be recovered with no permanent liver damage.