Hepatitis AevokesHAV virus (Hepatitis A Virus), transmitted via food. Hence also the common name of the disease - jaundice or type A jaundice. Therefore, infection with the type A virus is defined as a disease of dirty hands or jaundice. It is not difficult to get infected, for example, in a public toilet or using the general canteen if the managers do not follow the rules of hygiene.
The liver is located in the right finculum area
In this part of the body it occupies a significant part of the abdomen and part of the left hypocholoma. It covers the liver of the diaphragm from the top, the stomach is the neighbor of the bottom, and the intestines are below it.
How do we get Hepatitis A?
1. The reason may be the consumption of contaminated drinking water, washed fruits and other raw foods.
2. The virus is in blood and stool, it is enough for the person who carries the virus to not wash his hands after leaving the toilet and start preparing food for others.
3. Travelers are particularly vulnerable to infections. It is estimated that the risk of developing hepatitis A among travelers is 100 times greater than the risk of developing typhoid fever.
4. The infection may also occur through close contact with an infected person in the asymptomatic stage of the disease.
What are the symptoms of jaundice?
After the first period, when the disease may resemble a cold, there are characteristic symptoms. The skin and whites of the eyes acquire a yellowish color, the urine becomes dark, and the stool on the contrary - bright, discolored.
Does hepatitis A require treatment under medical supervision?
Yes. In this case, it is necessary to visit the doctor as soon as possible. If, for example, a sick child goes to kindergarten, the institution should be notified about the illness.
Treatment for hepatitis A
Treatment of hepatitis A is long and troublesome. (It may also require hospitalization, which lasts about 2-3 weeks.) The therapy consists mainly in observing and providing the patient with the right conditions: peace, proper diet, etc. Against this disease, there are no drugs apart from the vaccine and diet. A special diet requires use for several months, which usually requires a long break in work. Although the disease is usually mild and ends with full recovery - however, about 10 - 20% of infected patients relapse after some time, the symptoms of which may persist up to six months.
Complications of hepatitis A
The consequences of hepatitis A may be cholestatic jaundice, hematological disorders, bone marrow aplasia, acute renal failure and even acute hepatic failure leading to death.
The risk of an epidemicHepatitis A?
Due to the low immunological immunity of the Polish population, especially in children and adolescents, the risk of a hepatitis A outbreak increases. In Poland, nearly 93% of children under the age of 15 do not have antibodies to protect against jaundice. The disease is particularly easily spread in large clusters, such as nurseries, kindergartens and schools.
Vaccinations against hepatitis A
The person who has already become ill does not need to be vaccinated. The passage of the disease provides complete immunity to jaundice type A. It is disturbing, however, that in Poland there is a large number of people who are not resistant to hepatitis A, older children and adults suffer with a more severe illness and may be long-term. In principle, compliance with hygiene rules should be enough to protect yourself from this disease. However, if you want to be sure, you can vaccinate your child (at your own expense).
Final remark:
Viral hepatitis (HCI) - commonly known as jaundice, causes several types of virus.They are marked with successive letters of the alphabet: A, B, C, etc. Every year nearly 300,000 people die around the world due to the complications of these infections.
Ed. Edward Ozga Michalski, MA
Literature
1 / Viral hepatitis: procedural problems; Professor dr hab. med. Piotr Zaborowski,
prof. dr hab. med. Janusz Cianciara; Therapy No. 5, No. 2 (90), MAY 2000
2 / Advances in hepatology in 2000 - viral hepatitis - Prof. dr hab. med. Jacek Juszczyk; Medycyna Praktyczna 2001
3 / www.lapharma.info (aib)
