Hepatitis A is an acute virus infection that harms the liver.There is usually fever with marked loss of appetite at the beginning.As the fever goes down,jaundice appears and the eyes turns yellow.Some people call all diseases that makes the eyes yellow 'yellow fever'.Not all people with yellow fever have true yellow eyes.
Hepatitis A is usually mild in small children and more serious in pregnant women during pregnancy and may even be fatal
SYMPTOMS OF HEPATITIS A
✓loss of appetite
✓Pain on the right side near the liver or the lower ribs.
✓Fever
✓General body itching
✓Yellowing of the eyes after few days
✓Sight or smell of Food may cause vomiting
✓The urine turns dark yellow and sometimes the stool becomes whitish
In general,the person is very sick for 2 weeks and remain very weak for 1 to 3 months after.
TREATMENT OF HEPATITIS A
-The sick person should rest and drink lots of liquids.If he refused most food,give him Orange juice,papaya and other fruits,plus broth with chicken or other proteins.It may help to take vitamins.-Control vomiting by using a vomit-control medicine like promethazine or diphenhydramine.
-When the sick person can eat give a balance of energy foods and protein.Like beans,meat,chicken,and boiled eggs are good.Avoid lard and fatty foods.Do not drink any alochol for a long time afterwards.
N.B:Antibiotics do not work against hepatitis.In fact some medicines will cause added damage to the sick liver.Do not use medicines.
PREVENTION OF HEPATITIS A
•The hepatitis virus passes from the stool of one person to the mouth of another by way of contaminated water or food.To prevent others from getting sick,it is very important to bury or burn the sick person's stool and keep he/she very clean.The person providing care should wash his hands well,after each time he goes near the sick person.
•Small children often have hepatitis without any signs of sickness,but they can spread the disease to others.It is very important that everyone should observe a very good hygiene
•For at least 3 weeks after the signs of Hepatitis go away.Take steps to avoid passing it on to others.Use separate dishes for eating,and don't handle food.Avoid sex even with condom.
