Hepatitis A: What are the Dangers?

Every year between 5 and 6% of the population is diagnosed with Hepatitis A (the statistic are more extensive in countries with poor hygiene, and where sanitation and sewage disposal are poor) the most common form of Liver infection. The other forms of Hepatitis are Hepatitis B and C, fatal in most cases, and there is no vaccine available.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, caused by drugs, regular consumption of alcohol, or certain medical conditions. However, in most cases, it is caused by a virus that infects the liver: Viral Hepatitis. The most common forms are hepatitis A, B, and C.​

​What are the Symptoms?

In most cases, symptoms are not showing in the first few weeks (the acute phase), generally showing after 2-7 weeks. The symptoms of Hepatitis A, B, and C may include:

• Fatigue, feeling very tired,
• Nausea, feeling sick to your stomach,
• Poor appetite, not feeling hungry,
• Diarrhoea,
• Losing weight without trying,
• Pain on the right side of the belly, under the rib cage (where your liver is),
• Mild fever,
• Sore muscles,
• Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice), dark urine, and clay-coloured stools.

Only a blood test can reveal which form of Hepatitis is infecting the liver.
When Hepatitis B and C become chronic, they may cause no symptoms for years, and the liver may be already damaged by the time warning signs arise.
Hepatitis A is highly contagious (through body liquids, including sweat, stools, including by hands not washed, or not washed properly, after going to the toilets) and infected people may not realise they are sick at all. In most cases, the virus goes away on its own, and the antibodies created by the infected person’s body, will defend the body from further infection (you only get Hepatitis A once). Although, reinfection may occur after 6-9months. Therefore, a change in lifestyle is crucial:

• Exercise should be minimum, even once feeling better to avoid relapse,
• raw vegetables and fruits have to be peeled and washed,
• most raw food (the common culprits in hepatitis A outbreaks), especially shellfish have to be banned until the virus has totally gone,
• same applies to alcohol and illegal drugs.
• Washing hands after going to the toilets should be done thoroughly (as it should always be! THIS IS THE MAIN CAUSE OF SPREADING OF THE VIRUS), or changing babies nappies, etc…
• drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

Traveling in regions with high infection rate may put you at risk.
Drinking heavily may also be favourable for Hepatitis A infection. It is called noninfectious Hepatitis, and may also lead to Liver cancer.

The good side of Hepatitis A is that the virus does not cause permanent damage to the liver, and there is vaccination in place, compulsory in some Western Europe countries for people working with children (schools, day care centres…) and food (chefs, cooks…). Children in America, have to be vaccinated as early as 1 year old.
​
In some rare cases, such as Fulminant Hepatitis, a liver transplant may be necessary to avoid liver failure or even death.

In brief:
The hepatitis A infection is usually caught by putting something in your mouth that has been contaminated with the stools (faeces) of someone with hepatitis A.

Sources
NHS Choices. (Visit http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hepatitis-a/Pages/Introduction.aspx for more information)