Content

• Steps
• Warning

Hepatitis A is an infection of the liver caused by the Hepatitis A virus. It is mainly spread by swallowing contaminated food or water from someone with hepatitis A. The way of transmission for hepatitis A is called the fecal tract of hepatitis A. Unfortunately, there is no cure for hepatitis A. Even so, getting adequate rest, adopting a healthy diet, and getting medical care can help control symptoms. Hepatitis A is less life-threatening and a full recovery usually occurs within a few months.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Identifying and Diagnosing Hepatitis A

1. 

   Recognize the symptoms. Hepatitis A has many symptoms and usually appears between 2 and 6 weeks of infection. Some symptoms are common, for example fever, while others, such as yellowing of the eyes, are specific signs of hepatitis. It should be noted that not all people with hepatitis A have symptoms. Symptomatic hepatitis A is more common in children than in adults. In the absence of symptoms, hepatitis A usually has the following signs:
   • Sudden onset of fever
   • Loss of appetite
   • Fatigue or lack of energy
   • Nausea or vomiting.
   • Stomachache.Because the Hepatitis virus attacks the liver, the pain is usually concentrated in the liver, the right abdomen below the ribs.
   • Dark urine
   • Light or clay-colored stools
   • Athritis
   • Yellow skin and yellow eyes. That is, the skin and eyes turn yellow. This is considered a symptom of liver disease alone, although it does not appear in all patients.

2. 

   
   
   Determine if you are at risk for hepatitis A. Like most diseases, hepatitis A can infect anyone. However, some people are at a higher risk of getting the hepatitis A virus. The following activities are considered risk factors for hepatitis A infection.
   • International travel. Outside of the United States, Canada, Western Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, hepatitis A is a fairly common disease in most countries around the world. Traveling abroad, especially to developing countries that lack sanitary infrastructure, increases your risk of getting hepatitis A.
   • Having sex with someone who has the virus. During sex, you may be exposed to hepatitis A virus particles. Having sex with someone with hepatitis A can increase your risk of infection.
   • Men have sex with each other. Hepatitis A is transmitted through the stool-to-mouth route, so having male-male sex puts the person at risk of contracting the virus.
   • Injecting drugs. Both intravenous or non-intravenous drug use puts subjects at high risk of hepatitis A, especially if they share needles.
   • Living with someone with hepatitis A. Family contact can spread the hepatitis A virus. If the infected person does not practice proper hygiene, such as washing their hands after using the toilet, they will be infected. Withdrawal to other family members.

3. 

   
   
   See your doctor for tests. If you experience any of the above mentioned symptoms, you should see your doctor for evaluation. The doctor will examine the symptoms directly. If you suspect that you have the hepatitis A virus, your doctor will perform a blood test to confirm. A positive test result means you have been infected with the virus. In that case, you shouldn't panic. Although you will feel very tired for a while, hepatitis A is rarely fatal and symptoms usually go away within 2 months. After that, you will be immune to the virus for life. During that time, you will have to properly treat the illness. advertisement

Part 2 of 3: Treatment for Hepatitis A

1. 

   
   
   Rest much. Hepatitis A will drain your energy through fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. To avoid fatigue, you must recharge to stay healthy and fight off the virus.
   • Avoid strenuous activities like vigorous exercise. You can do light activities like walking if you feel well enough. However, always talk to your doctor before attempting any activity.
   • If possible, take a break from school or work. This will help you both save energy and avoid the risk of infecting others.

2. 

   Take ibuprofen. Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory drug that helps treat the pain and swelling caused by hepatitis A. Ibuprofen includes drugs such as Motrin and Advil. Ibuprofen is the most commonly used pain reliever for people with hepatitis because it causes less damage to the liver. On the contrary, you should not take Acetaminophen and Aspirin because these drugs are harmful to the liver and can cause liver damage.

3. 

   Practice proper hygiene. Even though you are very tired, you should still try to clean properly. Wash your hands often, especially after using the toilet, and do not share cups or eating utensils with everyone. This will help prevent infecting your family members, roommates, or anyone who lives with you.

4. 

   Drink a lot of water. Your body needs to replace the water lost due to vomiting and diarrhea. Filtered water is the best option, but if you have trouble eating or swallowing food, you may need to choose water with added nutrients to avoid malnutrition. The types of water you can choose from include Gatorade sports drinks, milk, fruit juices and a nutritional supplement like Ensure.
   • Avoid drinking alcohol during recovery. Alcohol causes your liver to overwork, causing serious or permanent liver damage while you are recovering from hepatitis A.

5. 

   Eat 4-6 small meals a day. Eating 3 large meals can make you feel nauseous or uncomfortable. Therefore, it's a good idea to break your meal schedule down into smaller meals. This will help prevent nausea and help your body process food more efficiently.

6. 

   Increase protein intake in your meals. Protein helps the body repair damage, so it's essential for the liver to heal. You should get 60-120 g of protein per day. Also, get protein from plant sources like beans, chickpeas, tofu, quinoa, nuts, and soy products. Compared to meat, these foods will be better handled by the body during the healing process.

7. 

   Choose foods high in calories. You will experience vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite during illness so eating high calorie foods will help increase your energy levels. You can increase your calorie levels by adding certain ingredients to meals or snacks throughout the day.
   • Drink whole milk instead of skim milk
   • Eat fruit, canned with syrup, for added sugar
   • Add butter to foods to add fats and oils
   • Snack on salad dressings, nuts and dairy products. These foods are rich in fats and calories.
   • Eat bread, bagels, pasta, and foods rich in carbohydrates.
   • Don't diet and avoid fat-free foods. Diets and non-fat foods are low in calories, so they won't increase energy.

8. 

   Weigh your body weight at least once a week. Since your body loses its nutrients through vomiting and diarrhea, you need to make sure you're eating enough to maintain your weight. Unchanged weight means that your diet is effective. On the other hand, if you lose weight, you need to increase your caloric intake. If you don't tolerate enough calories to maintain your weight, you may end up in hospital due to complications of hepatitis A.
   • If you have lost weight, let your doctor know. Your doctor may do tests to make sure that you don't have any other problems with your recovery.

9. 

   Be alert for signs of complications. Although it is very rare, you can have serious complications with hepatitis A. If you do, you could be hospitalized and even life-threatening. Keep a close watch on the condition and see your doctor immediately if you experience symptoms of the following diseases:
   • Cholestasis. This is where bile builds up in the liver. Although it is not a critical illness, you still need to notify your doctor so that the best treatment plan can be made. Symptoms of cholestasis include constant fever, jaundice, diarrhea, and weight loss.
   • Liver failure. Although rare, liver failure is a very serious complication that can stop the liver from working and can be fatal if left untreated. In addition to the normal symptoms of hepatitis, signs of liver failure include nosebleeds, easy bruising, hair loss, high fever, chills, edema (fluid buildup in the legs, ankles, and feet), ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdomen leading to a pronounced bulge) and drowsiness / confusion. See your doctor immediately if you experience any of the above symptoms.

10. 

    Stay in contact with your doctor during recovery. You should see your doctor regularly for liver function monitoring and testing. Make an appointment with your doctor and provide information about the condition for the best recovery assistance. advertisement

Part 3 of 3: Prevention of Hepatitis A

1. 

   Vaccination. Fortunately, there is a vaccine that helps prevent hepatitis A effectively 99 - 100%. If you haven't been vaccinated yet, you should consult your healthcare professional to get the shot. Also, consult your doctor if you are in a risk group (as outlined in section 1) as they may prescribe an additional dose (auxiliary dose).

2. 

   Wash your hands often. This is the most effective way to avoid infection, and hepatitis A is no exception. Hepatitis A is spread through the feces, so wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet. The following instructions for proper hand washing should be followed:
   • Wet your hands under clean running water.
   • Apply soap and rub hands together. Be sure to rub your entire hand, including the back of your hand, between your fingers and your fingernails.
   • Rub your hands for about 20 seconds.You can hum a 20-second song for precise timing.
   • Wash your hands under clean running water. Remember not to touch the faucet with your hands when the water is turned off. You can use your forearm or elbow to turn off the tap.
   • Use a clean, dry towel to dry your hands or let them air dry.
   • If you do not have soap and water, you can use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Apply the amount of hand sanitizer as directed on the product label to your hands and rub until the water is dry.

3. 

   Wash fruits and vegetables. Foods to be eaten raw should be thoroughly washed. Eating food that has passed through the hands of someone with hepatitis A or comes into contact with human waste can expose you to the virus. Therefore, you should wash food before eating to avoid the risk of infection.
   • Wash fruits and vegetables under running water. Do not use soap.
   • Use a clean brush to scrub if the vegetables have a thick or hard skin, such as watermelon.
   • Use a clean paper towel or towel to dry food.
   • Avoid eating food or drinking water where outbreaks are or should be taken to ensure you do not eat contaminated food / water.

4. 

   Cook food at the right temperature. Like agricultural products, meat can become infected with the hepatitis A virus if it passes through the hands of an infected person. To prevent infection, you should follow instructions on how to prepare meat. Usually, meat must be heated to at least 63-71 degrees Celsius to kill pathogens. You can read other articles on the right temperatures when preparing different types of meat. advertisement

Warning

• Follow your doctor's advice. The information in this article is intended to be a guide only but should not be used as a substitute for your doctor's advice.