Overview
Hepatitis is a condition in which the liver becomes inflamed as a result of toxins, alcohol abuse, immunological illnesses, or infection. The majority of hepatitis cases are caused by viruses.
Hepatitis A is a kind of hepatitis caused by the hepatitis A virus’s infection (HAV) or (HEV). This is a kind of acute (short-term) hepatitis that normally does not require treatment.
Symptoms/ Signs
When children under the age of six catch the virus, they usually show no symptoms. Mild symptoms appear in older children, teens, and adults, and can include:
- flu-like symptoms (fever, fatigue, body aches)
- jaundice
- loss of appetite
- abdominal pain (especially in the right upper quadrant)
- light-colored stool
- unexplained weight loss
Causes
Hepatitis A can be contracted by:
- Consuming food cooked by someone infected with the hepatitis A virus
- Eating food prepared by someone who don’t wash their hands well before touching food that you consume
- Uncooked shellfish infected with sewage
- If not using condoms, when having sex with someone who has the hepatitis A virus
- Consuming contaminated water
Treatment
Hepatitis A does not have a formal treatment. Treatment is usually focused on decreasing your symptoms because it’s a short-term viral infection that goes away on its own.
Hepatitis A symptoms normally start to get better after a few weeks of rest. You should do the following to alleviate your symptoms:
- Maintain a Heathy Diet
- Drink Plenty of Water
- Avoid alcohol
When to seek a doctor?
If you have hepatitis, It is necessary to seek a doctor at the earliest for early diagnosis and prevention. Within two weeks of exposure to hepatitis A, getting a hepatitis A vaccine or an injection of immunoglobulin (an antibody) may protect you from infection.
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