Monsoon can whet your appetite for street food, which is often fried, spicy, and also unhygienic; from the use of unsafe water and reused oil to pollution, there are many factors that could play havoc with your digestive health.
One of the common infections during the rainy season is Hepatitis A, an inflammation of the liver that spreads through contaminated food and water or direct contact with the person suffering from the infection. The disease can cause mild or severe symptoms. They include fever, loss of appetite, diarrhea, malaise, nausea, abdominal discomfort, dark-colored urine, and jaundice.
DR. Lalit Verma, Clinical Lead & Senior Paediatric Gastroenterologist, Hepatologist, and Liver transplant specialist at Global Hospitals Parel, in an interview, talks about signs and symptoms, risk factors, and prevention tips.
What is Hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is highly contagious but gets resolved in a few weeks or months without any significant impact on long-term liver health, and patients usually have a good recovery. Hepatitis A spreads through unhygienic food or contaminated water and is common in monsoon season. There is no specific treatment for the infection, and thus it is important to prevent contracting it. People who have chronic health issues or liver disease are at risk of liver failure and even fatality. Older people need to be extra careful as they are at greater risk.
Who is at risk?
Vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, dark urine, low appetite, itching, diarrhea, fatigue, vomiting, abdominal pain, and jaundice in a later stage. Once the family members of caregivers notice jaundice, then they should consult the expert on an immediate basis. Most of the affected hepatitis A patients get cured on their own. But, 0.5 % of the patients may require hospital admissions for worsening jaundice.
How to diagnose Hepatitis A?
The treating doctor will take down your medical history and check antibodies in the blood, called anti-HAV IgM. These antibodies will help to know if one has hepatitis A.
Treatment and Prevention goals
There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A.
Recovery from symptoms following infection may be slow and can take several weeks or months.
Do not self-medicate
The doctor will ask you to be comfortable, eat a nutritious diet, and drink a lot of fluids. Avoid smoking and alcohol if you are infected with the Hepatitis A virus.
The spread of hepatitis A can be reduced by adequate supplies of safe drinking water and proper disposal of sewage.
Personal hygiene practices such as regular handwashing before meals and after going to the bathroom. Inactivated hepatitis A vaccines are available above 1 year of age.