Hepatitis A is a preventable infection caused by the hepatitis A virus, which affects the liver's ability to function and is found in the stool and blood of people infected with it.
Hepatitis A is highly contagious but short-lived, as a person may become infected unintentionally through:
1. Close personal contact with an infected person
Hepatitis A is spread through close contact with an infected person, through certain types of sexual contact, such as: having sex with an infected person, caring for a sick person, or using drugs with others.
2. Eating contaminated food and drink
Hepatitis A can also be transmitted through consuming contaminated food or drink, as some developing countries suffer from contaminated food and water, thus increasing the risk of spreading and contracting hepatitis A.
Symptoms of hepatitis A
Symptoms usually do not appear until after a few weeks, and symptoms include the following:
*Tired.
*Nausea and sudden vomiting.
*Abdominal pain, especially on the right side.
*Anorexia.
*Low temperature.
*Dark urine.
*pain in the joints.
*Clay-colored stool.
*Jaundice.
*Severe itching.
It is worth noting that some people may have symptoms for less than two months, while others may suffer from symptoms for up to 6 months.
Methods of treating hepatitis A
First, you should know that there is no medicine that prevents infection with hepatitis A, but the doctor will treat the symptoms accompanying the disease and conduct some tests to ensure that the body recovers. He may also recommend some precautions to make you feel more comfortable, such as:
1- Take enough rest and sleep, as the person will most likely have less energy than usual.
2- Make sure to get enough nutrients, as hepatitis leads to difficulty eating due to nausea.
3- Drink plenty of water and fluids to keep the body hydrated. It is preferable to drink milk instead of water, especially if the person suffers from vomiting.
4- Avoid consuming alcohol, as excessive consumption may exacerbate liver damage.
Ways to prevent hepatitis A:
The best way to protect against hepatitis A is to get the hepatitis A vaccine. To get the full benefit of the vaccine, there may be a need to take more than one injection, as the vaccine is given in a series of two injections every 6-12 months.
There are other precautions to reduce the incidence of hepatitis A, which are:
*Wash hands well with soap and water for 20 seconds before eating and drinking and after using the bathroom.
*Drink bottled water instead of local water, especially when traveling to developing countries where the risk of hepatitis A is high.
*Stay away from raw and undercooked foods to avoid the risk of contracting hepatitis.
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