Symptoms
The possible symptoms of acute hepatitis include:
- Fatigue
- Pain, fever
- Nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite
- Light stools, dark urine
- Jaundice
- Swelling of the liver and spleen
The disease usually lasts less than two months, but can last for several months. Unlike other infectious liver inflammations such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C, it does not become chronic. Severe complications such as fulminant hepatitis are rare. The disease may also be asymptomatic, especially in children.
Causes
The cause of the disease is acute infection with hepatitis A virus (HAV), a small, nonenveloped, single-stranded RNA virus of the picornavirus family. The virus is excreted in the stool and transmitted fecal-orally, for example, through contaminated foods such as fruits, vegetables, shellfish (e.g., mussels, oysters), and ice and water. Infection is also possible from person to person, via contaminated objects, and during sexual intercourse. The virus is very resistant and can survive outside the human body for several months. The incubation period is usually about four weeks weeks.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is made on the basis of the clinical picture, patient history, and laboratory methods (blood sampling).
Prevention
- Vaccines are available for drug prevention; see Hepatitis A Vaccination.
- When traveling abroad, “Cook it, boil it, peel it or leave it.”
- Wash hands well with soap and water after using the toilet and before preparing meals.
- Observe good hygienic conditions.
- The virus can be inactivated by heat above 85°C and with Javel water.
Treatment
- Bed rest in the acute stage
- Symptomatic drug therapy, for example, with agents against vomiting and agents against diarrhea.
- Avoid drugs and substances that are harmful to the liver, such as alcohol
- Avoid transmission of the virus
- Liver transplantation for fulminant hepatitis.
