If U Have Hepatitis a Can U Get It Again
Hepatitis A (Hep A)
What Is Hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A, likewise called hep A, is a contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. Some people have only a mild disease that lasts a few weeks. Others have more severe bug that can last months. You commonly get the disease when y'all eat or drinkable something contaminated by poop from a person who has the virus.
The hepatitis A virus usually isn't dangerous. Virtually everyone who has information technology gets better. But considering it can take a while to become abroad, you'll demand to have care of yourself in the meantime.
Hepatitis A Symptoms
If you accept this infection, the virus is causing inflammation in your liver. Some people, especially many children, don't have symptoms. Others might have:
- Jaundice (yellowish optics and skin)
- Belly pain
- Night urine
- Loss of appetite
- Upset breadbasket
- Vomiting
- Itching
- Pale-colored poop
- Joint pain
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
These problems tend to get away later about 2 months but might keep coming dorsum for up to 6 months.
Yous can spread the hepatitis A virus fifty-fifty if you feel fine. You lot tin can also spread information technology well-nigh 2 weeks earlier your symptoms appear and during the first week after they show up.
Hepatitis A Causes
You can catch the disease by drinking water or eating nutrient that's been contaminated past someone with the virus. You tin can too get hepatitis A if you:
- Swallow fruits, vegetables, or other foods handled or prepared by a person who has the virus
- Eat raw shellfish harvested from water where the virus lives
- Eat contaminated water ice
- Take sex activity with someone who has it
- Touch your mouth after touching a contaminated object
Hepatitis A Hazard Factors
You could be at higher gamble of getting the disease if you:
- Take close contact with someone who'southward infected
- Travel to countries where hepatitis A is common
- Are homeless
- Apply recreational drugs, even without needles
- Accept a blood clotting disorder like hemophilia
- Piece of work with primates
- Have HIV
Also at higher hazard are:
- Men who have sex with men
- Kids in kid intendance and their teachers
Hepatitis A Diagnosis
Your doctor will kickoff ask about your symptoms and check for loftier levels of liver enzymes in your blood. Then, they'll do more blood tests to look for:
- IgM (immunoglobulin G) antibodies. Your trunk makes these when you're kickoff exposed to hepatitis A. They stay in your blood for about 3 to 6 months.
- IgG (immunoglobulin Yard) antibodies. These show upwardly afterward the virus has been in your trunk for a while. Yous may have them all your life. They protect you against hepatitis A. If you test positive for them but not for IgM antibodies, it means you had a hepatitis A infection in the past or had vaccinations to protect against information technology.
Hepatitis A Handling
No medication can get rid of the hepatitis A virus once you have it. Your doctor will treat your symptoms -- they may call this supportive care -- until information technology goes abroad. They'll also practice tests that bank check how well your liver is working to be sure your body is healing like it should.
Y'all can have these steps to make yourself more comfy:
- Get some rest. You lot'll probably feel tired and ill and have less energy than usual.
- Endeavour to keep food downwards. The nausea that sometimes comes with hepatitis A tin can brand it tough to consume. It may be easier to snack during the day than to eat full meals. To make sure y'all become enough nutrients, go for more than high-calorie foods and drink fruit juice or milk instead of water. Fluids volition also aid continue yous hydrated if you're throwing upward.
- Avoid alcohol. It's harder for your liver to handle medications and alcohol when you accept the virus. Plus, drinking can lead to more liver impairment. Tell your md well-nigh whatsoever medications y'all accept, including over-the-counter drugs, as these might as well injure your liver.
Hepatitis A Complications
The virus usually doesn't cause whatever long-term problems or complications. Rarely, y'all may have liver failure or need a transplant.
Hepatitis A Vaccine
The vaccine to forestall it is nearly 95% constructive in healthy adults and can work for more than 20 years. In children, it's about 85% effective and tin can terminal 15 to twenty years.
Experts recommend that certain people get vaccinated:
- Travelers to countries with more hepatitis A infections
- All children ages 13-23 months
- All children and adolescents ages 2-18 who did non previously receive a vaccine
- Families adopting children from countries where the virus is mutual
- Men who have sex with men
- People who accept a blood clotting problem
- Those experiencing homelessness
- People who have direct contact with a person with the virus
- People who employ recreational drugs
- People who have long-term liver disease
- Anyone else who wants to be protected against the virus
- The hepatitis A vaccine includes ii injections 6 months autonomously. A combination vaccine for hepatitis A and B has iii shots over half-dozen months.
Hepatitis A Vaccine and Travel
If you lot're going to a country where hepatitis A is common and yous've never had the virus or the vaccine, start the vaccination process as soon as you tin. It takes 2 to 4 weeks afterwards the first dose for the vaccine to work, but even ane shot a few days before you leave will give you some protection.
People who are allergic to something in the vaccine and children younger than half dozen months might instead become a shot of immune globulin (IG), which volition protect confronting hepatitis A for up to 2 months.
Hepatitis A Prevention
The vaccine is your all-time defense. If you come into contact with someone who has hepatitis A, yous tin get the vaccine or an IG shot within 2 weeks for some protection.
Good hygiene is besides important. E'er wash your easily with lather and h2o later using the bathroom, before and after handling food, and after changing a diaper.
When y'all travel to a place with poor sanitation, don't drink tap water or consume raw nutrient.
Hepatitis A Manual Prevention
When you accept hepatitis A, have these steps to keep from giving information technology to others:
- Avert all sex activity.
- Wash your hands after you lot use the bathroom or change diapers.
- Don't prepare food for other people.
Source: https://www.webmd.com/hepatitis/digestive-diseases-hepatitis-a
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