Understanding Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a disease that can attack the liver and is caused by a viral infection. The number of people with this disease in the world is estimated to reach 1.4 million in each year. While in Southeast Asia alone, cases of acute hepatitis A affects about 400,000 people per year with a mortality rate of up to 800 people. Most people with hepatitis A are children.
Early symptoms that may appear include fever , nausea , vomiting, pain in joints and muscles, as well as diarrhea . When the liver has begun to attack, there are some other symptoms that will arise, namely dark urine, pale stools, jaundice and itching. In addition, upper right abdominal area will also be hurt, especially if pressed.
But not all sufferers experience symptoms of hepatitis A . Therefore, the disease is sometimes difficult to realize. Only one of 10 patients with hepatitis A under the age of six years who experienced jaundice. Whereas in adolescents and adults, the disease usually causes more severe symptoms and about seven out of 10 will experience jaundice.
Causes and Transmission of Hepatitis A
The cause of this disease is hepatitis A virus can spread very easily. The main modes of transmission are through food or drink that has been contaminated by the feces of people with hepatitis A. Some risk factors that can increase the spread of this virus include:
This disease has no specific treatment step because the immune system will get rid of the virus by itself. Step hepatitis A treatment aims to relieve the symptoms experienced by infected. Handling includes taking reliever itching, pain, nausea and vomiting as prescribed. The liver also need to be allowed to rest for example by not consuming alcohol and be careful with medications that can affect the liver.
The time needed to recover fully from people with this disease usually several months. Successful people with full recovery will have immunity against the disease.
Risk of Complications Hepatitis A
Infection with hepatitis A usually does not cause long-term liver disease (chronic) and is rarely fatal. However, this disease has the potential to cause liver failure, especially in those who already have heart disease before infection with hepatitis A and elderly patients. Moreover, in some people with this infection may recur or back again.
Ways to Prevent Hepatitis A
Because the spread primarily through consumption of contaminated something, the main measures of prevention of hepatitis A is to maintain cleanliness. This step can be done easily, for example, always wash your hands, avoid the consumption of raw or undercooked foods and avoiding snacks vendors.
In addition, the hepatitis A vaccine can prevent this disease. Especially for those who have a high risk as those who suffer from chronic liver disease, people with hemophilia and injection drug users.
But not all sufferers experience symptoms of hepatitis A . Therefore, the disease is sometimes difficult to realize. Only one of 10 patients with hepatitis A under the age of six years who experienced jaundice. Whereas in adolescents and adults, the disease usually causes more severe symptoms and about seven out of 10 will experience jaundice.
Causes and Transmission of Hepatitis A
The cause of this disease is hepatitis A virus can spread very easily. The main modes of transmission are through food or drink that has been contaminated by the feces of people with hepatitis A. Some risk factors that can increase the spread of this virus include:
- Poor sanitation.
- Direct contact with sufferers.
- Sharing needles.
- Having sex with a person, especially anal sex.
- Men who have sex with men.
- Working in areas related to dirt, for example ditch.
This disease has no specific treatment step because the immune system will get rid of the virus by itself. Step hepatitis A treatment aims to relieve the symptoms experienced by infected. Handling includes taking reliever itching, pain, nausea and vomiting as prescribed. The liver also need to be allowed to rest for example by not consuming alcohol and be careful with medications that can affect the liver.
The time needed to recover fully from people with this disease usually several months. Successful people with full recovery will have immunity against the disease.
Risk of Complications Hepatitis A
Infection with hepatitis A usually does not cause long-term liver disease (chronic) and is rarely fatal. However, this disease has the potential to cause liver failure, especially in those who already have heart disease before infection with hepatitis A and elderly patients. Moreover, in some people with this infection may recur or back again.
Ways to Prevent Hepatitis A
Because the spread primarily through consumption of contaminated something, the main measures of prevention of hepatitis A is to maintain cleanliness. This step can be done easily, for example, always wash your hands, avoid the consumption of raw or undercooked foods and avoiding snacks vendors.
In addition, the hepatitis A vaccine can prevent this disease. Especially for those who have a high risk as those who suffer from chronic liver disease, people with hemophilia and injection drug users.
