What is an Hepatitis A Infection?

[Mataracy]

Hepatitis A infection spread by the faeco-oral route with an incubation period of 4-5 weeks. It is usually a mild infection of children which goes unnoticed. In young adults it usually causes symptoms with fever,loss of appetite,nausea and pain inder the right rib margin. After a few days or weeks,jaundice and dark urine develop. The faeces may be clay-coloured if cholestasis occurs.

Examination of these patients usually reveals jaundice and swollen tender liver. Blood tests of liver function and a look for antibodies to hepatitis A may help to establish the diagnosis.
Patients can be looked after at home but may be admitted to hospital for social reasons, if the disease is severe or the diagnosis is in doubt. In hospital,patients should be barrier nursed and care is taken with diaposalbof faeces,as the virus is excreted in the stool.

There is no specific treatment and no special diet is necessary. The illness usually resolves over 3-4 week. Very occasionally patients relapse.

 

[Sodiq]

Thank you for starting this informative thread, this thread will be an eye opener and will also serve as awareness thread because a lot of individuals has this infection and do not know, which is very dangerous for their health. This infection ( Hepatitis A ) is one out of the the 4 types of hepatitis in the world. Among them, Hepatitis A is an highly contagious liver infection which is caused by the hepatitis A virus. Though this infection can be prevented by vaccine, and not as dangerous as Hepatitis D is.

Hepatitis A is said to be foods and water borne infections, and this virus can be easily trnasmitted as a result of unhygeinic conditions, poluted water and food. Hepatitis A symptoms includes nauseating, fatigue, fever, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite among others. Hepatitis A is said to be mainly transmitted through the fecal to oral route. That is infected people shed viruses in their feces. If they don’t observe proper hygiene, the virus can end up on their hands and speed through food they handled.

Among others Hepatitis, it is only Hepatitis A that does not cause chronic liver disease in human body and studies shows that Hepatitis A is rarely fatal unlike Hepatitis C and D. Albeit, it can cause debilitating symptoms and acute liver failure if proper treatment is not taken.