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Hepatitis A
Medical Questions » Hepatitis A
| Name: Hepatitis A |
| Also known as: Infective Hepatitis |
| A viral infection of the liver. The liver is used by the body to process food and eliminate waste products through bile which passes into the gut. If the liver is damaged, it cannot work efficiently, and the main constituent of bile (bilirubin) builds up in the blood stream. |
Causes of Hepatitis A
Caught by eating food that has been contaminated by someone who has the disease. The virus lives in the liver, but large numbers pass down the bile duct and into the gut, and contaminate the faeces. If sufferers are not careful with their personal hygiene, the virus may be passed onto someone else. When hepatitis A virus particles are swallowed, they are absorbed with the food into the bloodstream and migrate to the liver, where after an incubation period lasting two to six weeks they start multiplying and cause damage to liver cells. Patients may pass on the virus for a week or two before they develop any symptoms. The vital preventative factor is the standard of hygiene in the community. |
Symptoms of Hepatitis A
Because of the yellow color of bilirubin, the skin slowly turns a dark yellow (jaundice). The whites of the eyes are affected first, and this may be the only sign of the disease in a dark-skinned person. Other symptoms are nausea, vomiting, marked tiredness, loss of appetite, generalized aches and pains, fever and a large tender liver. |
Tests for Hepatitis A
Blood tests are available to diagnose the type of hepatitis and monitor its progress. |
Treatment for Hepatitis A
The main treatment is bed rest, and a diet that is low in protein and high in carbohydrate. Alcohol is forbidden. Sometimes it is necessary to give medication for nausea and vomiting and to feed severely affected patients by a drip into a vein for a short time. If it continues to worsen, drugs may be used to reduce the liver damage. Hepatitis A can be prevented by a vaccine.
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Complications of Hepatitis A of its treatment
In rare cases (2 in 1000), the disease may progress despite all efforts of doctors and result in death. This is more common in the elderly. |
Likely Outcome of Hepatitis A
There is usually an initial worsening of the symptoms, followed by a slow recovery period that may take from one to four months. In children, it may be present, and recovery occur, with no symptoms ever being present.
Permanent liver damage is uncommon. |
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