Hepatitis A - Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment - Avicenna Health

Jennifer was 17 years old when she went out for Mexican food to celebrate her friend’s birthday. A few weeks later, she developed fever, stomachaches, weakness, muscle pain, nausea and, vomiting. Her urine turned dark brown, and her skin turned yellow. She couldn't breathe without feeling like she was being stabbed in her abdomen, below her rib cage. The girl's parents took her to the doctor, where a blood test revealed the diagnosis, which was hepatitis A virus.

Definition of Hepatitis A

It is a contagious liver infection that is caused by a virus called The Hepatitis A Virus.

This type is one of several types of hepatitis viruses that can cause inflammation and affect the liver’s ability to function.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of Hepatitis A appear after getting the virus for a few weeks.

Many patients don’t develop them, but the common symptoms and signs are:

1.  Nausea

2.  Vomiting

3.  Fatigue

4.  Abdominal pain – beneath the lower ribs

5.  Loss of appetite

6.  Joint pain

7.  Itching

8.  Fever

9.  Dark urine

10. pale-colored poop

11. Jaundice – the color of the skin and the eyes become yellow

12. Diarrhea

Causes of Hepatitis A

Patients get the virus after drinking or eating something contaminated with the virus (fecal matter).

Hepatitis A virus may also be spread by close contact with an infected patient.

Patients can also contract the virus in several ways, for example:

-      Eating food prepared by hepatitis A patient

-      Eating sewage-contaminated raw shellfish

-      Having sex with a patient who has Hepatitis A virus.

Risk Factors

-      Traveling to countries where hepatitis A is common

-      Having close contact with a hepatitis A patient

-      Having sex with a hepatitis A patient

-      HIV positive

-      A man who has sex with men

-      Injecting or using illegal drugs

-      Homeless people

-      Having a blood-clotting disorder like Hemophilia

When to see a doctor?

-      You need to see your doctor if you have any of the signs and symptoms of Hepatitis A.

-      Ask the doctor about receiving the hepatitis A vaccine if you have any of the risk factors.

Diagnosis

-      Serum transaminases – it is elevated

-      Serum bilirubin – it is elevated

-      Blood urea – it is elevated in a severe liver disease

-      Serum creatinine - it is elevated in a severe liver disease

-      Prothrombin time – it can be mildly prolonged

Differential Diagnosis

-      Acute hepatitis B

-      Hepatitis E

-      Acute Hepatitis C

-      Epstein-Barr Virus infection

-      Coxsackievirus infection

-      Cytomegalovirus infection

-      Herpes simplex virus infection

-      Biliary atresia

-      Auto-immune hepatitis

-      Alpha-1 antitrypsin disease

-      Alcoholic hepatitis

-      Ischemic hepatitis

-      Drug-induced hepatitis

-      Wilson’s disease

Management

There isn’t any specific treatment for hepatitis A.

In most cases, the liver heals within six months.

There is no lasting damage in most cases of Hepatitis A.

Patients of Hepatitis A need to:

1.  Rest – because many patients feel tired and have less energy

2.  Manage nausea

3.  Avoid alcohol

4.  Use medications with care

If you have any concerns about non-emergent health conditions, you may schedule a telemedicine consult with Avicenna Health provider for individualized consultation.

References

Mayo Clinic

BMJ

Healthline

WebMD