Hepatitis A is an inflammation of the liver caused by infection with the hepatitis A virus.
The cause of this disease is hepatitis A virus. This virus can spread easily through the consumption of food or beverages that have been contaminated with feces of hepatitis A patients. Hepatitis A belongs to acute hepatitis, meaning that the disease will generally be cured in less than 6 months.
Hepatitis A Risk Factors
A person is more prone to hepatitis A if they have the following conditions:
- Visit or live in an area where there are many cases of hepatitis A.
- Having inter**course with a hepatitis A sufferer.
- Living in a house with hepatitis A.
- Poor sanitation.
- Direct contact with the sufferer.
- Share a syringe.
- Men who have se**x with fellow men.
- Work in areas related to feces, such as sewers.
Hepatitis A Causes
The main way of spreading is through food or beverages that have been contaminated by the stool with hepatitis A.
Hepatitis A Symptoms
Symptoms experienced people with hepatitis A, which can be
- Dizziness,
- Nausea and want to vomit,
- Sore throat,
- Diarrhea,
- Loss of appetite
- Pain in the muscles and joints.
- Tired
- Stomach feels uncomfortable
- Upper right abdominal pain under the ribs
- Mild fever
- Dark urine
- The skin and whites of the eyes turn yellow
- Itching
Symptoms of hepatitis A can sometimes feel mild and can disappear in a matter of weeks.
However, there are also sufferers who are infected with hepatitis A virus and are seriously ill for up to several months.
The incubation period of hepatitis A disease for the patient is infected with the virus until symptoms appear usually appear 15-50 days.
Hepatitis A Transmission
The culture of food sharing using individual cutlery is believed to be capable of transmitting diseases such as hepatitis and SARS. But for coronavirus still cannot be proven scientifically. Even so, medical experts advise avoiding shared eating cultures and sharing them with individual cutlery because of the potential to transmit disease.
The main cause of hepatitis A comes from hepatitis A virus infection (HAV). The virus can infect liver cells and trigger inflammation.
When the liver is inflamed, the performance of the organs that function to take the juice of food in the blood and produce bile can be disrupted.
Hepatitis virus can survive seawater, fresh water, sewerage, and soil for up to a month.
The most common way of transmission of hepatitis A virus is through food and beverages contaminated with human feces.
Unlike Covid-19 or coronavirus and flu infections, the virus does not spread through sneezing, coughing, or splashing of fluid from the respiratory tract.
Here are some more specific ways of transmitting hepatitis A:
- Eating the results of cooking or prepared by hepatitis A patients who do not clean their hands after using the toilet
- Drinking water contaminated with hepatitis A virus
- Eat shellfish or raw seafood from sewage-contaminated water
- Close contact with people infected with hepatitis A
- Having se**x with a hepatitis A sufferer.
Hepatitis A Diagnosis
Consult a doctor immediately in case of the following:
- You are experiencing symptoms of hepatitis A
- Generally, to detect hepatitis A virus should be tested on blood samples.
- You’re only in a situation that can lead to exposure to hepatitis A virus, but don’t experience any symptoms
Early treatment may prevent infection. - You feel the need to get vaccinated against hepatitis A
A blood test is urgently needed so that the diagnosis can be confirmed immediately. This is important because it can rule out other serious diseases with symptoms are almost the same.
The diagnosis of hepatitis A is done through the collection of information by the doctor based on the symptoms you feel. In addition, a blood test is also required. You can be diagnosed with hepatitis A if the blood test results show a positive reaction of antibodies.
If the blood test results show positive for hepatitis A, the doctor will examine the condition of the liver. The examination can be done through a supporting test called evaluation of liver function. In addition, ultrasound examination can also be done.
Read also:
Hepatitis C: Symptoms, Causes, Effects, Screening, and Prevention
Hepatitis A Prevention
Preventing hepatitis can be done from simple things, such as maintaining cleanliness by always washing hands, avoiding the consumption of raw or undercooked food and avoiding snacks in street vendors who are not guaranteed cleanliness.
