Hepatitis A in adults

What is hepatitis A

Hepatitis A (its second name is Botkin’s disease) is an infectious lesion of the liver that causes the hepatitis A virus. It is usually not dangerous. Almost everyone who gets sick usually makes a full recovery. But since treatment and recovery can take some time, you need to take care of those around you.

In some people, the illness is mild and lasts for several weeks. Others may develop more serious problems and the illness may last for months.

People who get hepatitis A may feel ill for weeks to months, but usually make a full recovery and do not have permanent liver damage. Rarely, hepatitis A can cause liver failure and even death, a complication that occurs in the elderly and in patients with other serious health problems, such as chronic liver disease.

Routes of transmission of hepatitis A in adults

A person can contract the disease by drinking water or eating food contaminated with the virus. He can also get hepatitis A if:

• eats food prepared by a person who is a carrier of the virus;
• eats raw shellfish harvested from water where the virus lives;
• consumes contaminated ice (from unboiled water);
• having sex with someone who has an infection
• touches the mouth after touching an infected object.

A person may be at increased risk of the disease if they have close contact with an infected person, travel to countries where hepatitis A is common.

Symptoms of hepatitis A in adults

Some people, especially young children, may not show symptoms. But in most cases, a sign of hepatitis A is:

• jaundice (yellow eyes and skin);
• abdominal pain;
• indigestion, diarrhea;
• vomiting;
• loss of appetite;
• dark urine;
• pale gray feces;
• heat;
• joint pain;
• fatigue.

With treatment, these symptoms usually disappear after 2 months, but may return within six months.

A person can pass the hepatitis A virus on to others, even if they feel well. He can also spread it about 2 weeks before symptoms appear and during the first week after they appear.

Treatment of hepatitis A in adults

No medicine can get rid of the hepatitis A virus. Your doctor will adjust your symptoms (called maintenance therapy) until they go away.

Your doctor will also run tests to check how well your liver is working to make sure your body is recovering properly.

Diagnostics

The doctor will ask about symptoms and check the level of liver enzymes in the blood. He will then do more blood tests to look for:

• IgM antibodies (immunoglobulin M) – they are produced if a person has become infected with hepatitis A for the first time, and remain in the blood plasma for 3 to 6 months;
• IgG antibodies (immunoglobulin G) – they appear some time after infection and usually remain in the blood for life – this is protection against the virus and a sign that a person has already had hepatitis A or has been vaccinated against it.

Modern treatments

Because there is no specific treatment for hepatitis A, patients are given supportive care to reduce symptoms.

But any sick person must take a number of steps himself in order to feel better.

Get more rest. Patients with hepatitis A have less energy than healthy people, so they need a good rest.

Eat right. The nausea that sometimes occurs with hepatitis A can make it difficult to eat. During the day, it is easier to have a snack than to eat a full meal. Therefore, when sick, it is important to eat more high-calorie foods and drink fruit juices or milk instead of water. Fluids also help keep you hydrated when you vomit.

Do not drink alcohol. When the liver is affected by a virus, it is more difficult for it to deal with alcohol. In addition, drinking alcohol can lead to even more liver damage.

Discuss medication with your doctor. You should tell your doctor about any medications you are taking, including dietary supplements, which can also damage the liver. You may have to adjust the treatment of other diseases, choose other drugs.

Prevention of hepatitis A in adults at home

The best prevention for hepatitis A is vaccination. In adults, the vaccine is 95% effective and can last more than 20 years. In children, it is 85% effective and protection can last from 15 to 20 years.

Especially persistently, experts recommend vaccinating certain categories of people:

• tourists traveling to countries where there are many cases of hepatitis A infection;
• infants aged 6 to 11 months who are going to travel abroad;
• children from 1 year old;
• family members who adopt children from countries where the virus is common;
• having direct contact with an infected person;
• patients with chronic liver disease.

The hepatitis A vaccine includes two injections 6 months apart. The combined vaccine against hepatitis A and B consists of three vaccinations, which are also given within 6 months.

If you are going to a country where hepatitis A is common and you have never had the virus or a vaccine, start the vaccination process as soon as possible. It takes 2 to 4 weeks after the first dose for the vaccine to work, but even one shot a few days before departure will protect you.

People who are allergic to any part of the vaccine and children younger than 6 months of age can get the immunoglobulin (IG) vaccine instead, which will protect against hepatitis A for up to 2 months.

The vaccine is your best defense. If you come into contact with someone who has hepatitis A, you can get a vaccine or IG shot within 2 weeks to create protection.

Good hygiene is also important. Always wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet, before and after handling food, and after changing a diaper. When you travel to a place with unsatisfactory sanitary conditions (for example, on foreign trips), do not drink tap water or eat raw food.

Popular questions and answers

We asked for answers to popular questions about hepatitis A Gastroenterologist Marata Zinnatullina.