How does Hepatitis A spread? Symptoms & Diagnosed

Hepatitis A refers to the liver inflammation mostly due to the toxins, immune diseases, infection or excessive use of alcohol. One of the significant causes of Hepatitis A is virus. Hepatitis A is the result of being infected by hepatitis A virus or HAV. This is a very short-term hepatitis which doesn't require any specific medical treatment.

As per the repository of World Health Organization more than 1.4 million of people are affected by Hepatitis A each year. Hepatitis A is highly contagious and spreads owing to contaminated water and food. The effects of Hepatitis A do not last for a long time and aren't that serious. Most of the times it reduces or vanishes on its own

 Symptoms of Hepatitis A

When children below the age of 6 are affected by Hepatitis A they do not show any significant signs. But, older children, adults and teenagers do show certain signs and symptoms on being affected by Hepatitis A. These may include

●     Pain in the abdominal area mostly in the upper part

●     Passage of dark colored urine

●     Sudden weight loss

●     Symptoms similar to that of flu inclusive of fever, body pain and so on.

●     Onset of jaundice, a disease which leads to yellow skin and eye.

Most of the times, the symptoms usually take 15 to 50 days to reappear in order to show the symptoms.

 How is Hepatitis A caused and contracted?

People become infected with Hepatitis A only after contracting with the virus. The virus may be transmitted due to eating contaminated food or liquid that contains fecal matters of virus. After being transmitted, the virus spreads in the body via bloodstream and reaches the liver. It is in the liver where the virus reacts causing inflammation and swelling.

Apart from consuming contaminated food and water, the virus is also transmitted after coming in contact with an infected person. Since HAV is contagious, people suffering from Hepatitis A can transmit the diseases to people in the house.

 Hepatitis A generally spreads because of

●     Consuming any food prepared by a HAV infected person

●     Consuming food from the hands of people who do not follow proper safety rules and do not wash their hands

●     Eating food that may contain fecal matter of insects

●     Avoiding the usage of protection while having an intercourse with HAV infected person

●     Drinking contaminated and polluted water

●     Growing in contact with fecal matter infected with HAV

If you have been infected by HAV virus, you might become contagious even two weeks prior to the outbreak of any symptoms. The contagious period disappears after one or two weeks of symptom outbreak.

How is it tested and diagnosed?

If you notice any outbreak of the symptoms, it is better to consult your doctor. The doctors often suggest undergoing a blood test to detect any viral or bacterial infection presence. It is only after the blood test that the presence will be detected.

Some people have very fewer symptoms of Hepatitis A outbreak. Most of the time, people develop jaundice due to the outbreak of Hepatitis A. If the symptoms of Jaundice do not appear, detecting any hepatitis may turn out to be difficult in physical form. If the symptoms are mild you might as consider not to get Hepatitis A diagnosed. As far as Hepatitis A is concerned, only few complications occur if the condition is left untreated.

 What are the complications?

As mentioned earlier, in only a few rare cases can Hepatitis A lead to liver failure. This is mostly observed in people having liver disease. Hospitalization becomes mandatory in such cases. But, you are likely to recover from these. As far as liver transplant is considered there are very few cases of it.

 How is treated and how to prevent long-term breakout?

Since Hepatitis A breaks out for a short time, it is not necessary to treat it: Get Tested Now. The virus will gradually disappear with time. In order to lower the discomfort caused due to symptoms you should refrain from alcohol, drink water regularly and consume a healthy diet.

Hepatitis A does not have significant long-term effects. The body will build up the immunity system after recovering in order to prevent the body from exposure to virus again.