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What Causes Hepatitis A?

Thursday, October 01, 2009
Related Tags: hepatitis | virus | symptoms | infection | blood
 

Instructions

Hepatitis A

  • Step 1:
    Hepatitis A differs from the other forms of hepatitis in that people who contract hepatitis A do not suffer from chronic recurrent infection. Additionally, the liver damage caused by hepatitis A is temporary, unlike the more dangerous hepatitis C or B.

Symptoms

  • Step 1:
    Not everyone who contracts hepatitis A will have symptoms. When present, symptoms include fatigue, nausea, dark urine, muscle pain and jaundice.

Cause

  • Step 1:
    Hepatitis A is caused when the hepatitis A virus enters the body and attacks the liver. The virus is contracted by touching contaminated blood/body fluids/fecal matter or by ingesting contaminated food or drinking water.

Other Causes

  • Step 1:
    Rarely, hepatitis A can be passed by receiving a blood transfusion with blood tainted by the hepatitis A virus. Another far more common mode of transmission is when raw shellfish are consumed that were harvested from waters containing raw sewage.

Treatment

  • Step 1:
    Hepatitis A usually requires no medical treatment. The immune system of infected persons will expel the virus within two to six months of infection. In some instances medications are prescribed to help with the symptoms (such as nausea).

Prevention

  • Step 1:
    To lower your risk of hepatitis A infection it is important to practice hygiene, wash your hands thoroughly before eating and after using a public toilet. A hepatitis vaccine is also available for persons 1 year of age and older.

What Causes Hepatitis A? Provided by eHow.com
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