Avoid Hepatitis A Transmission, Recognize Symptoms and How to Prevent Them
What is hepatitis A and how dangerous is it?
Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by a virus transmitted through food and drink contaminated with the virus and direct contact. In addition, sexual intercourse can also be a cause of contracting hepatitis A if sexually or orally.
This virus is also present in the feces of infected patients. However, he stressed, hepatitis A is actually not easily transmitted. "Because it's actually not easy to contract it from one person to another just because, for example, meeting on campus," he told JawaPos.com recently.
He also explained that hepatitis virus A cannot be hepatitis B. Because the virus causes different. Therefore, if ever vaccinated by the hepatitis B vaccine does not mean it is also protected from hepatitis A virus infection. But it could be in one case the patient has 2 types of conditions, namely B virus infection and hepatitis virus A.
Symptoms of Hepatitis A
Patients with hepatitis A usually come already yellow and urinate like tea water. Symptoms that arise can be mild to severe. Even if there is fulminant hepatitis due to the hepatitis A virus, this can cause death.
Previously patients experienced common colds, such as people who experience flu symptoms, body aches, and nausea. Sometimes accompanied by vomiting, decreased appetite, and weakness. The patient also felt pain in his upper right abdomen due to a hepatitis A infection.
Usually, laboratory examinations are carried out to show increased levels of bilirubin and SGOT and SGPT. Antibody testing for hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) is also done to ensure a person has the disease.
The incubation period is the disease's entry period until symptoms occur between 2-6 weeks. The condition can heal entirely, and importantly, the patient must rest completely.
Treatment of Hepatitis A Patients
The drugs are given only to eliminate the symptoms that appear. For example, if diarrhea is given anti-diarrheal drugs. Or if limp is handed vitamins and the intake of food is recommended.
"Liver supplement drugs are sometimes given to reduce liver inflammation that occurs," explained Dr. Ari.
According to him, patients need to be isolated and not sleep in a room with healthy people. In hospitals, patients usually sleep alone in the room and are separated from other patients. Some patients don't need to be treated. But if the patient experiences nausea and vomiting and does not want to eat should indeed be treated to get an infusion of fluids and food.
Prevention
The most important prevention is to live a healthy life by eating regularly and having adequate nutrition. In addition, rest enough and consume a lot of fruits and vegetables. Wash your hands with soap regularly, before and after eating or after getting out of the toilet.
Especially for those who take care of sick people with hepatitis A must maintain their endurance well if necessary by taking vitamin or mineral supplements. Hepatitis virus A vaccination should be given to people who will visit the area infected with the outbreak 2 weeks before being attacked.
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