Wednesday, July 16, 2008 The A in Hepa By Betty Bagares-Poyogao, M.D. Pediacosset
A NINE-year-old child presented with fever, abdominal pain, and yellowish discoloration of skin and eyes. She completed the hepatitis B vaccine series.
What else could have caused this? Hepatitis. Yes, it still is hepatitis but of another kind. Not the type we are familiar with and not as fatal. In case you do not know, there are six types of hepatitis virus namely: A, B, C, D, E and G. The most common of which is the Hepatitis B virus. However, the A virus is fast gaining its popularity nowadays.
Viral Hepatitis A is an inflammation of the liver due to an infection caused by the Hepatitis A virus. This causes the liver to swell. But fear not, this is a mild, self-limiting disease that will heal completely leaving the liver to return to its normal appearance.
The virus is transmitted via the fecal-oral route, meaning if one eats contaminated food or drink from a fecal material of an infected person, he is infected by the disease. This is possible if there is poor personal hygiene, poor hand washing technique and poor environmental sanitation.
The signs and symptoms are non-specific. These include several days fever, body malaise, and headache, on and off abdominal pain, yellowish discoloration of the skin and sclera or the white portion of the eye. Sometimes, urine is dark in color. When these signs and symptoms appear, consult your doctor. Laboratory exams are performed to determine what type causes the infection. A test will be done for antibody to hepatitis A. The test will show whether you have been exposed lately to Hepatitis A virus. A test for Hepatitis B is also done.
Hepatitis A is easy to diagnose. A thorough physical examination and lab tests are adequate to make the diagnosis.
The treatment is mainly supportive. Increasing oral intake, getting plenty of rest, avoiding too much alcohol and eating the proper diet less in fats and cholesterol will alleviate the condition. Studies made on the administration of antiviral such as methisoprinol and inosiplex showed satisfactory results of reducing viral activity. However, these are mainly supportive medications, not mainly the cure. The disease itself is self-limiting.
For prevention, there is a vaccine given in a series of two shots. The second is given six to 18 months after the first. With the first vaccine, you are protected two weeks after. The second vaccine offers lasting protection up to 20 years. After being infected with Hepatitis A virus, you will have life-long resistance.
The key to avoiding infection from Hepatitis A virus is proper hand washing. This has been the tried and tested rule to prevent diseases. Before you put anything in your mouth, make sure your hands are clean; the food is cooked and handled properly. When in doubt, do not eat anywhere you are unsure on how the food was made and handled. Do not use utensils that are not yours. Be careful on how some food establishments keep their eating utensils.
I am not keeping you from eating in food establishments. Just practice good personal hygiene and there is always the vaccine that will prevent this disease. Consult your doctor about it.
