Hepatitis A (HAV): Rapid review

•  Introduction.
•  Signs and symptoms.
•  Diagnosis.
•  Prevention.
•  Treatment.
•  Transmission.
•  Some hygiene information to protect yourself.

• Hepatitis A(infectious hepatitis) is acute infectious disease of the liver caused by hepatitis a virus.
• The incidence of the infection is high in the developing countries and in regions with poor hygiene standards and the illness is contracted in early childhood.
• The incubation period (time between the infection and the appearance of symptoms) is between 2 to 6 weeks {average 28 days}.
• Hepatitis a doesn't have chronic stages, isn’t progressive, and doesn’t cause permanent liver damage.
• HA infection causes no clinical signs and symptoms in over 90% of the infected children and the infection confers life long immunity as following the infection, AB are formed that confers immunity against further infection.

• Symptoms may be mistaken for influenza (fever ,fatigue,abdominal pain , diarrhea, appetite loss, itching, nausea, jaundice, urine of dark color, stool of light color)
• The color of urine is due to the excretion of bile in it and the color of feces is due to lack of bilirubin.
• Symptoms can return over the 6-9 months
• Mortality is less than 0.5%

• IgM antibody is only present in the blood following an acute hepatitis A infection (detectable from 1-2 weeks after the infection and persists for up to 14 weeks.
• the presence of IgG antibody in the blood mean that acute stage is past and the person is immune to further infection
• IgG is also found in the blood after vaccination and tests for immunity to the virus are based on the detection of this Ab.

• Hepatitis A can be prevented by (vaccination,good hygiene and sanitation).
• The vaccine is given by injection into the muscle of the upper arm.
• The vaccines, (e.g. Havrix and VAQTA)contain no live virus and are very safe.
• Initial dose provides protection for 2-4 weeks after vaccination and the second dose(booster dose) is given 6-12 months later, provides protection up to 20 years.
• N.B. vaccine is given before the infection as it doesn't work after the exposure.
• Vaccine isn't recommended for children younger than 2 years as it's ineffective for them.
• If you have been exposed to person who is infected with HAV, there is treatment that may prevent you from becoming infected, it’s called immune globulin and is more likely to be effective when given 2 weeks of exposure.
• [Immune globulin is a preparation of Ab that can fight the virus in the body] given safely in children younger than 2 years, pregnant women and breast feeding.
• some samples taken to study ocean water quality was found to have HAV specially after rains so it's advisable not to go to oceans in coastal areas in this time.

• There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A, but symptomatic treatment (rest, well balanced diet, stay hydrated)and avoid fatty foods and alcohols.
• N.B. avoid taking medicine or any substance can cause harm to the liver e.g. acetaminophen.
• The low % of death scour usually in older ages (>50 years) and in those suffering another form of viral hepatitis (C or B).

• By fecal-oral route, poor sanitation, overcrowding,ingestion of shellfish cultivated in polluted water and by blood transfusion but this is very rare.
• Fecal-oral route mean that when a person put something in his mouth that has been contaminated with faeces of an affected person.
• N.B. people who don't have symptoms can still spread the virus.

• Wash your hands thoroughly every time you use the bathroom,before touching or preparing food, and before touching others. Wash carefully with soap and warm water and dry thoroughly.
• Contaminated surfaces should be cleaned with household bleach to kill the virus. Heat food or water to 185°F or85°C to kill the virus. 

Posted by Unknown on 12/28/2010. Filed under diseases, GIT, rapid reviews . You can subscribe to the site updates through the RSS 2.0 or by Email