Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is an acute infectious disease caused by hepatitis A virus, which produces inflammation and necrosis of the liver. The virus transmission is fecal-oral route, by ingesting contaminated food and water or directly from one person to another. A person infected with the virus may or may not develop the disease. The transmission is common among children who have not yet learned notions of hygiene, among those living in the same household or are sexual partners of infected people. Ten days after a person is infected or not develop disease symptoms, the virus becomes eliminated in the feces for approximately three weeks. The period of increased risk of transmission is from one to two weeks before the appearance of symptoms. Transmission can occur through ingestion of water and food contaminated by infected people who do not obey rules of hygiene such as washing hands after using toilets. The manifestations, when present, may occur 15 to 50 days (30 in average) after contact with the virus of hepatitis A (incubation period). The onset is sudden, often with fever, fatigue, malaise, loss of appetite, feeling of discomfort in the abdomen, nausea and vomiting. Often pronounced aversion to cigarette smoke. Diarrhea may occur, most common in children (60%) than in adults (20%). After some days, can appear jaundice (yellowing of eyes) in approximately 25% of infants and 60% of adults. The stool may then turn yellow-white (like putty) and urine reddish-brown color. The disease usually not more than two months. In about 15% of people, the symptoms may persist discreetly for up to six months, with eventual reappearance of symptoms. The recovery is complete, the virus is completely removed from the body. Hepatitis A has no specific treatment. Therapeutic measures aimed at reducing the discomfort of symptoms. In the early period of the disease may be indicated relative rest, and return to activity should be gradual. Alcohol should be abolished. Food can be eaten according to appetite and acceptance of the person, with no need for diets.
Treatment
Do not turn chronic and usually cured naturally.
Prevention
Vaccine exists but is not distributed. Then, wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet and before cooking.