Hepatitis A: Overview, Causes, Symptoms, and More

Table of Content

• What is Hepatitis A?

• Transmission of Hepatitis A

• Causes of Hepatitis A

• Who are at risk of Hepatitis A?

• Hepatitis symptoms: How do you know if you have Hepatitis A

• Diagnosis of Hepatitis A

• Treatment for Hepatitis A

• Take-Home Points

• FAQ on Hepatitis A

What is Hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A is defined as inflammation of the liver which can cause mild to severe illness.

Transmission of Hepatitis A

Ingestion of contaminated food and water and direct contact with an infected person are the main sources of transmission of the Hepatitis A virus. Poor sanitation and lack of safe water increase the risk of Hepatitis A infection.

Causes of Hepatitis A

The causes of hepatitis A are:

• Stools and blood of infected people

• Contaminated food and drink: Hepatitis A is transmitted when an uninfected person consumes food or water contaminated with the faeces of an infected person. This may happen when an infected person prepares food with dirty hands for family members. In this way, family members are at risk of getting Hepatitis A infection.

• Drug abuse

• Anal sex: A study has concluded that the Acute Hepatitis A outbreak in Poland (2017) affected men who had sex with men. This was related to oral–anal sexual contact and many patients were not vaccinated.

• Occupational: There is an increased risk of hepatitis A virus infection among occupational workers. It depends on contact with infected faecal matter and low natural immunity rates. This category includes daycare providers, hospital workers, nurses, sewage workers and food handlers.

• Travellers: Those who visit rural areas and eat or drink frequently in poor sanitation conditions are at risk of Hepatitis A infection. However, those who visit urban areas, wash their hands and choose food carefully are also at risk of getting Hepatitis A infection when visiting countries where hepatitis A is common.

Who are at risk of Hepatitis A?

You should know these risk factors of Hepatitis A so that you are more aware of the disease and take possible preventive measures to prevent it. These are:

• Poor sanitation: It is important to maintain good hygiene to prevent Hepatitis A.

• Lack of safe water

• Sexual contact with Hepatitis A infected person

• Drug abuse

• Sex between men

• Travelling to endemic areas.

• Non-vaccinated individuals: It is important to get vaccinated for hepatitis. Those who are not vaccinated are at risk of Hepatitis A infection.

Hepatitis symptoms: How do you know if you have Hepatitis A

The symptoms of Hepatitis A are given below:

• Fever

• Headache 

• Malaise

• Loss of appetite

• Jaundice

• Dark coloured urine

• Nausea

• Vomiting 

• Stomach pain

• Joint pain

• Clay-coloured stool

• Fatigue 

• Diarrhoea

The incubation period is 14-28 days. Hepatitis symptoms start 2 to 7 weeks after exposure, but you recover within a few days or it may take a few months. Hepatitis A does not become chronic, and a person can recover completely; antibodies provide lifelong immunity. However, sometimes Hepatitis A may relapse, but this is followed by recovery.

The virus can survive outside the body, also.

Heating food and liquid at 85 degrees Celsius for 1 minute could kill the virus, but freezing cannot.

There is a very small proportion of people infected with hepatitis A who are at risk of dying as a result of fulminant hepatitis.

Have you ever imagined there could be a link between strawberries and Hepatitis diagnosis?

Add to your knowledge strawberries from FreshKampo Brand caused Hepatitis A outbreak.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency investigated whether the Hepatitis A outbreak occurred after consuming fresh organic strawberries under the brand name Freshkampo.

In this CDC remarked to the people that those who have taken organic strawberries of FreshKampo brand between March 5 to April 15, 2022, and then frozen them to eat later.

CDC told people that if they have frozen organic strawberries, they should not eat them. They should throw frozen organic strawberries away even if they do not know the brand name. Anyone who ate these strawberries was advised to consult their healthcare provider within 14 days. If they are not vaccinated for Hepatitis A, then they should get the post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) vaccine.

Diagnosis of Hepatitis A

The diagnosis of hepatitis A is made by:

• Patient history

• Symptoms

• Blood test

Hepatitis A vaccination:

Some of the key points of Hepatitis A vaccination are:

• Two-dose series.

• Licensed in the US for one year of age or older.

• Immunoglobulin within two weeks provides maximum protection.

• It can be administered with other vaccines.

• Do not delay doses

• Protection lasts for ten years

Vaccination age group:

• Children: 12-23 months

• Pregnant women

• Unvaccinated of age 2-18 years

Licensed vaccines are:

1. Single antigen:

HAVRIX by Glaxosmithkline 

VAQTA by Merck and Co.Inc

2. Combination vaccine

TWINRIX by Glaxosmithkline

Combined Hepatitis A and B vaccination

Hepatitis A prophylaxis:

GamaSTAN TM S/D by Grifols Therapeutics approved US FDA.

If PEP vaccination is done within 14 days of exposure, then it can prevent Hepatitis A illness.

Treatment for Hepatitis A

There is no treatment for hepatitis A so it would be best for you to prevent it first, and if you are diagnosed, you should get a Hepatitis A vaccination and immune globulin.

Treatment goals for Hepatitis A

The main goal of treatment for Hepatitis A is:

• To take adequate rest

• To take healthy food

• Replacement of fluid lost due to diarrhoea and vomiting.

Hepatitis Awareness

WHO is working towards global hepatitis goals under the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030.

The goal is to:

• Increase hepatitis awareness

• Formulation of evidence-based policy and data for action.

• Increase health equities within the hepatitis response

• To prevent transmission

• Increase screening

• Scale up care and treatment

Some of the important points in hepatitis awareness are:

• Routine check-up

• Stay hydrated

• Drink purified water

• Clean washroom

• Doctor consultation before taking over-the-counter medications

• No alcohol

• Wash hands before eating

• Compulsory vaccination

• No sharing of personal items like razors and toothbrushes

Hand washing is important to prevent Hepatitis A: Do you know this?

Wash your hands thoroughly to reduce the chances of getting and spreading Hepatitis A infection.

It is important to wash hands for 15 to 30 seconds.

You must wash your hands after using the toilet, changing diapers, and before eating food. It is always important to wash your hands before you start preparing food.

Take-Home Points

If you are suffering from hepatitis A, then you should eat a balanced and healthy diet. You must avoid alcohol because it causes damage to the liver.

References

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-a

Occupational risk for hepatitis A: a literature-based analysis