All About Hypertitis A

Hypertitis A was formerly known as infectious hypertitis which is an acute infectious liver disease caused by the hypetovirus hypertitis A virus. It is most commonly transmitted by the intake of contaminated food. Hypertitis A does not typically have a chronic stage and will not cause permanent liver damage. The patient's immune system makes antibodies against Hypertitis A that confer immunity against future infection. Individuals can take a vaccine which will prevent infection from Hypertitis A for approximately 15-30 years.

Many times people do not know that they have contracted Hypertitis A because the symptoms are often minor and may even be mistaken for a cold or flu. Some individuals, especially the children may have no symptoms at all. If contracted, the symptoms of Hypertitis A will usually appear between 2 to 6 weeks after the start of infection. These symptoms include: fatique, fever, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, appetite lose and jaundice.

If an individual is diagnosed with Hypertitis A, there is really no specific treatment to be given. Patients are advised to rest, avoid fatty foods and alcohol, eat a well-balanced diet, and stay hydrated. Approximately 15% of people diagnosed with Hypertitis A may experience one or more symptomatic relapse(s) for nine months to a year after contracting the disease.

The best way to avoid contracting Hypertitis A is to have good hygiene and sanitation. Always use your own towels and toothbrush, eating utensils and other personal items. Before eating, remember to wash your hands. When using public toilets, be sure to use the seat covers. And after using the toilets, you must wash your hands with soap. As mentioned earlier, vaccination is available and is even recommended in areas where the prevalence of Hypertitis A is high.