Hepatitis A is a viral infection that is extremely communicable and lead to acute inflammation of liver . It is very rough-cut in the developing nation include parts of Africa , Asia , Eastern Europe and Central and South America . Hepatitis A has become very uncommon in the United States and after the advent of hepatitis A vaccine in 1995 ; its occurrence has turn down to about 95 % .
Transmission of Hepatitis A Virus
in general , hepatitis A virus is transmitted through contamination of intellectual nourishment and H2O with the fecal matter of an infected someone . It can also be spread by food prepared by an septic person . People who are at a higher endangerment of developing hepatitis A include individuals live with someone who has active hepatitis A , sharing of contaminated needle , having unprotected sex with an septic person , homosexual men , traveling to developing countries where hepatitis A is very coarse and children in child care and their teachers . It is mostly seen in nestling and adults over the age of 50 are at a heavy risk of developing it .
It is not scatter by sneezing , cough , bosom and being near an infected person . It is also not transmit by a lactating mother to her child .
How Do You Know You Have Hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A can go undiagnosed in some of the patient , mostly in young tiddler under the geezerhood of 6 years , as it does not present with any symptoms in them . However , symptoms are potential to be present in older nestling and adults over the years of 50 year . unremarkably , hepatitis A contagion presents with symptoms of the infection 2 - 6 weeks after coming in contact with the computer virus . Some hepatitis A affected role will never make out they have hepatitis A. patient can easily get confused with the symptom of hepatitis A and flu like symptom , as mostly patients will represent symptom of weakness , fatigue , sickness , vomiting , muscle soreness , abdominal uncomfortableness and pain , fever , diarrhea and decrease appetence . These affected role can differentiate the symptom of flu with hepatitis A , as in addition to these symptoms the affected role will also have symptom that are more specific to liver kindling , which admit hoary or clay colored BM , glum yellow urine andjaundice(yellowing of skin and eye ) . Some affected role might have symptoms lasting for as long as 6 months . The affected role should natter a physician when one notices the symptoms .
Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A can be diagnosed based on the symptoms he presents with . after it is confirmed with a blood test , which might show hepatitis A antibodies against the virus . The antibodies that are ordinarily found in acute hepatitis A infection will be IgM form of antibodies ( IgM anti - HAV ) . A soul can also know whether he / she had been exposed to hepatitis A before or not through a pedigree test , in which case one will be electropositive for total hepatitis A antibody ( anti - HAV ) . A soul should always blab to the doctor if they suspect that they have been exposed to hepatitis A virus .
Generally , hepatitis A dumbfound better in a few weeks without any treatment . However , in some the symptom can last as long as 6 calendar month . The doctor may give palliative treatment to the patient role that includes repose , stay hydrated , rust a sizable diet and refrain from alcohol until and unless one has recovered completely . medico may also give medicament to alleviate symptoms of hepatitis A. There are no retentive - term upshot of hepatitis A , but there are chance of return of the contagion within 6 to 9 months in 10 to 15 % of cases , according to CDC.Liver failureis considered a very rare ramification of the disease .
If the symptom persist for long , greater than 6 month then one should chatter a doctor . The doctor will usually get liver affair exam done to see optimal functioning of liver and to see whether it is healing or not .
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