Hepatitis A: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the Hepatitis A Virus (HAV). A person contracts this illness from contaminated food, water and sometimes from sexual activities. The common symptoms of Hepatitis A are appetite loss, jaundice, nausea, diarrhoea, fatigue and fever. Hepatitis A does not have a fixed treatment. It can be managed by only controlling the symptoms. A person suffering from this condition should take sufficient rest, have nutritious diet and avoid alcohol to reduce stress on the liver.

The treatment of Hepatitis A is extremely generic. The different symptoms that are present require moderate attention. In extreme cases, a person may suffer acute liver damage and need a liver transplant. If a person is at a risk of contracting Hepatitis A he can be given a immune serum globulin treatment that shall prevent an onset of the disease. Prevention plays a big role in this illness and this can be done by taking the Hepatitis A vaccine. This vaccine is given at the age of 1 year to keep children safe. Also, people travelling to countries where this disease is predominant should take this vaccine. The only medicated procedure that is followed to give relief to the patients is monitoring ORS to patients who are suffering from dehydration or IV fluids in more severe cases. Medicines like Acetamynophen should be avoided in this condition as they tend to deteriorate the liver condition.

The post treatment guidelines encompass simple steps that should be followed on a daily basis. It is important to take a lot of rest to let your body recover. Do not forget to keep your body hydrated. Your liver might be at stake, so don’t put further pressure on it by indulging in alcoholic beverages. Physical exercise must not be done at a prolonged and vigorous rate. Do ensure to have a good personal hygiene so that you do not spread the HAV to the people around you.

Hepatitis A usually cures by itself in few months. It has been seen that the symptoms last for about two weeks to two months. In severe cases if liver damage occurs it can become life threatening and may or may not be curable.