Hepatitis A

What is it?

Hepatitis A is called another Botkin's disease. It is considered the most favorable form of hepatitis, since it has no serious consequences.

Most often, children with hepatitis A become ill: the disease is transmitted through dirty hands.

The disease is widespread mainly in underdeveloped countries with a low level of hygiene, including in Russia.

How does it happen?

A sick person can isolate a virus with feces, after which, the one with water or food enters the intestines of other people. Doctors call this mechanism of infection fecal-oral. What's happening? After the incubation period (from 7 to 50 days), during which the virus multiplies and adapts in the body, the disease begins to manifest itself.

First, before jaundice, hepatitis resembles influenza and begins with fever, headache, general malaise, body aches. A few days later the picture begins to change: appetite disappears, pains appear in the right hypochondrium, nausea, vomiting, darkens urine and discoloration of feces. Doctors fix the enlargement of the liver and less often the spleen. In the blood are found characteristic for hepatitis changes: specific markers of viruses, bilirubin increases, liver tests increase in 8-10 times.

The disease lasts from 1 week to 1.5-2 months, after which a recovery period occurs, which can last up to six months.

Diagnosis

The main criteria for the diagnosis of hepatitis A are laboratory indicators: markers of hepatitis viruses and specific changes in biochemical blood parameters. In addition, the diagnosis is made taking into account the symptoms, anamnesis (the onset of the disease after contact with patients with hepatitis A). Treatment Most cases result in spontaneous recovery and do not require active treatment.

With a heavy current, droppers are prescribed, eliminating the toxic effect of the virus on the liver.

All patients are recommended bed rest during the height of the disease, a special diet and drugs that protect the liver (hepatoprotectors). It is recommended to avoid drinking alcohol, which, like a poisonous substance, can weaken an already damaged liver.