Hepatitis A - Cure and Treatment

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver and when this is caused by the A type virus, it is known as Hepatitis A. Also known as infectious hepatitis, this is transmitted through the enteric or fecal route – in other words, a person becomes infected by eating or drinking something that has been contaminated by the feces of an already infected person. Symptoms usually appear after about four weeks of exposure to the virus and can range from general malaise to fever, nausea, muscle and joint pain as well as jaundice. Treatment for Hepatitis depends upon the kind of virus that causes it and your physician will be able to confirm that after clinical examination and relevant diagnostic tests.

Fortunately most cases of Hepatitis A are self-limiting, which means that the immune system of the body is able to fight the disease on its own. Thus no particular medicines are required to treat the infection but your doctor may prescribe some as supportive therapies that is in order to control your nausea or relieve symptoms like aches and pains. Most people with self-limited Hepatitis A recover in about four to eight weeks on their own.

The most important requirement of the body in case of self-limited Hepatitis A is rest – lots of it. This will give the body the necessary time to fight the disease besides ensuring that all its strength and resources are directed to the purpose. If on the other hand you continue to create stress for your body, it will not only get weaker but also be vulnerable to other kinds of complications. You may need to take several days off from work or school in order to recover fully.

Among other things which can help a patient of Hepatitis A to recover quickly is a nutritious diet including adequate quantities of fruits and vegetables. Nausea can make it difficult to eat at all, so you need to find ways to make food appealing. Eat several small snacks throughout the day rather than three large meals. Soft and simple like broth, light soups, yoghurt and toast are not only easily digested foods but taste good as well. Often patients worry about whether they should be taking animal protein at all; this is because most animal proteins are processed in the liver which at this time is already weak. However this does not mean that you should start avoiding proteins altogether but it is better to easily digestible, low fat ones like poultry, fish and white meat prepared with as little fat as possible.

You need to take adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals since many of these like Vitamins C, D, E and A in the beta-carotene form are believed to help regenerate a sluggish liver. However because the patient is advised a low-fat diet or may be suffering from nausea, he/she may not be getting enough of these vitamins. In such cases, your doctor will be able to review your situation and decide whether you need to take vitamin supplements or whether you are getting enough from a well-balanced diet. But at the same time beware of  taking excessive doses of Vitamins which may do your liver more harm than good. Vitamin A in the retinol form is thought to be particularly dangerous for a weak liver.

As important as it is to follow a nutritious diet, so you should keep away from certain foods and drinks. Alcohol, tobacco products and recreational drugs should be avoided. Keep away from fatty, oily or deep-fried foods since it is hard for the liver to process these. The main intention here is to create as little stress for the liver as possible so that it can get on with the job of healing. For the same reason review all your usual medications, including over the counter drugs with your doctor since he/she may recommend stopping or changing some of these.

While this is not specifically related to treatment, persons infected with Hepatitis A should follow certain habits so as not to spread the infection. Washing hands after using the toilet and before preparing or eating food is necessary since these practices reduce the chances of the virus entering the digestive system. Scrub your hands vigorously for at least ten seconds with a germicidal soap and after rinsing, dry them on a disposable towel. Also avoid sexual activity if you are diagnosed with Hepatitis A since you may inadvertently expose your partner to the virus as well. Neither condoms nor female contraceptives provide complete protection in this case.

A vaccine for Hepatitis A has been around for some time now and is usually strongly urged for people who are at risk of contracting the disease, like children living in areas with high incidence of hepatitis A and anyone travelling to countries where hepatitis A is endemic. In addition, immunization may be recommended for people whose sexual practices are likely to put them at risk. In some cases Hepatitis A immunization is also recommended for people who have been exposed to it so as to prevent the infection from developing into a full-blown disease. Hepatitis A vaccine is given in a series of injections. The first injection offers protection from the virus for up to a year. Within six to nine months of the first injection, a booster dose is recommended which gives protection for up to ten years.

Rarely Hepatitis A can lead to severe complications such as liver failure when the liver can no longer heal itself and the condition starts other parts of the body too. Also known as fulminant hepatic failure or fulminant hepatitis in its most serious forms, it is marked by encephalopathy, confusion, change in behavior and inability to mentally process things. In such cases hospitalization may be necessary for emergency and critical care and your doctor may even advise liver transplant. This is a complex surgical procedure that involves replacing your damaged liver with a healthy donor liver. Even though numerous operations of this nature are performed every year, because of number of surgery-related complications involved, it is usually seen as a treatment of the last resort.

In recent years, there has been a lot of advancement in the treatment of various types of Hepatitis. While Hepatitis A is usually self-limiting and rarely requires serious medical intervention, doctors and researchers around the world are still trying to know more about the disease and how to effectively prevent as well as treat its complications.