Hepatitis A
What is it?
Hepatitis is a term for inflammation of the
liver. Hepatitis A is an infectious illness caused
by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). It is also known
as infectious hepatitis.
Who gets it?
Hepatitis A can infect children and adults. A
large number of reported cases occur in children
in the United States who attend daycare centers.
Other people at risk are people living in crowded
military camps, homosexual men, people living in
poverty-stricken areas where living conditions are
crowded and unclean, and tourists in areas where
there is a high risk for hepatitis A.
What causes it?
Hepatitis A is spread by people with an active
infection, even though they may not have symptoms.
The virus commonly spreads from the stool (bowel
movement) of one person to the mouth of another.
This can occur when an infected person uses the
bathroom, does not wash his or her hands, then
handles food that others will eat. Or the virus
can be waterborne, meaning it is picked up from
contaminated water or by eating contaminated raw
shellfish. The virus can also be spread through
the saliva, blood, and other bodily fluids of a
person with the infection, such as through anal
sex. Hepatitis A is contagious for two to three
weeks before symptoms appear, then for two to
three weeks afterward.
What are the symptoms?
Many people, especially children, have no
symptoms from hepatitis A. Adults are more likely
to have flu-like symptoms that appear around two
to six weeks after being infected. These symptoms
can include loss of appetite, fever, body aches,
fatigue, abdominal pain, a distaste for coffee,
and a loss of taste for cigarettes in smokers. The
liver is often enlarged and inflamed. Symptoms
that may follow include nausea and vomiting; foul
breath and bitter taste in the mouth; dark brown
urine; yellowish skin and eyes, called jaundice;
pain just below the ribs on the right side,
especially when pressed; and pale-colored bowel
movements that may be looser than normal. Symptoms
usually last for less than two months, and the
virus has no lasting effects. In very rare cases,
hepatitis A can cause liver failure and death
How is it diagnosed?
Your doctor will take a complete medical
history to determine when you began having
symptoms, how they progressed, and how you got
infected with the hepatitis A virus. It's
important to ensure that any liver inflammation is
not a side effect of medications you are taking or
from the abuse of alcohol. Your doctor will
examine your skin, eyes, and your abdomen for
signs of hepatitis. The diagnosis can be confirmed
by urine and blood tests. However, the symptoms
and their duration are usually enough for a
diagnosis.
What is the treatment?
Your doctor will prescribe bed rest, a balanced
diet, and avoidance of alcohol and certain
medications that could affect the liver for at
least 6 months. Hospitalization is only necessary
for more serious cases, or for severe dehydration.
If you are known to have been exposed to hepatitis
A, your doctor may recommend an injection of a
substance called immune (gamma) globulin, which
can reduce the symptoms of hepatitis A. There is
also a vaccine available that may provide years of
protection against hepatitis A. The vaccine is
usually given to people who will be traveling in
areas where there is a high risk of contracting
hepatitis A, or work in high risk areas, such as
healthcare.
Self-care tips
Follow your doctor's instructions for bed rest
until the fever and jaundice are gone, and urine
color is normal. Avoid too much physical activity
in the first few months. Eat small, balanced
meals, using lightly carbonated soft drinks,
juices, and hard candy to reduce nausea. Do not
drink alcohol. Do not engage in high risk
behaviors, such as intravenous drug use or sex
with multiple partners. If you have hepatitis A,
do not share food, drinks, toothbrushes, needles,
or razor blades with others. Do not donate blood.
If you are traveling in an area where there have
been outbreaks of hepatitis A, be sure to avoid
untreated water and ice, and eat only well-cooked
foods and peeled fruits.
This information has been designed as a comprehensive and quick reference
guide written by our health care reviewers. The health information written
by our authors is intended to be a supplement to the care provided by your
physician. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice.
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