It is one of the viruses known to cause inflammation of the liver, commonly seen
in the younger population. It is highly contagious but does not cause any
permanent liver damage. It is usually acquired from contaminated food or
In Pakistan, where most of the regions experience hot and humid weather,
people rely upon unhygienic means of hydration and this increases the chances of infection. School going children
are especially vulnerable.
Another important aspect is some cultural myths associated with this disease
herbal tonics and amulets. which have no scientific basis and are of no benefit.
Avoid going to quacks. Severe
infection is rare but can be seen in those cases who have underlying
chronic liver disease.
Symptoms appear after you have had the virus for a few weeks. They can include:
The duration of symptoms is variable but can be prolonged in some cases
which again does not mean that a specific drug therapy is needed.
A specific set of blood tests are required initially for the diagnosis as recommended
by your doctor. Liver function tests, hepatitis A antibodies and PT INR are some of
the important investigations required for the diagnosis.
Frequent monitoring of liver chemistry is not required as it takes time to normalize, which is variable and it is
not directly related to the prognosis of the disease.
No specific treatment exists. Most over-the-counter treatments and
tonics advocated are of no use. Most patients can be managed at home.
Hospital admission is required in those cases who developed an altered level
of consciousness or severe derangements in specific blood tests like PT INR.
Moreover, jaundice can take some time to improve and is not necessarily a
marker of severity of disease
Rest and good hydration are the cornerstones in management. Medicines
can be given to improve nausea and vomiting. It is very important to
understand that unnecessary medications such as herbal tonics should be avoided as they increase the
chances of further liver injury and may result in serious outcomes.
Unlike other hepatitis viruses, hepatitis A does not cause any long-term liver
damage. Severe infection that damages the liver is very rare and requires stay in
hospital for monitoring and management.
A vaccine for prevention of hepatitis A is available and can be given as per
your doctor’s recommendation. It consists of one shot followed by a
booster dose 6 months later.