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The treatment of hepatitis A is done to relieve symptoms and help the body to recover more quickly, and the use of medicines to relieve pain, fever and nausea may be indicated by the doctor, in addition to rest and constant hydration.
Hepatitis A is an infectious disease caused by the hepatitis A virus, HAV, whose main route of infection is through the consumption of water and food contaminated by this virus, leading to the appearance of symptoms such as tiredness, nausea, body aches and low fever that last for about 10 days. Learn how to identify the signs and symptoms of hepatitis A.
How is the treatment for hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a self-limiting disease, that is, the body itself is able to eliminate the virus naturally, with the symptoms disappearing after about 10 days and complete recovery in about 2 months. In spite of this, it is important that the person consult the general practitioner or infectious disease if they present any signs or symptoms that are indicative of hepatitis A to prevent the virus from causing more severe inflammation in the liver.
Usually the doctor indicates remedies that help to relieve the symptoms, and the use of painkillers, anti-inflammatories and remedies for motion sickness may be recommended, however it is important that the treatment is followed according to the doctor's guidance to prevent overload of the liver. In addition, some recommendations are generally made that should be followed by the person to accelerate the person's recovery, the main ones being:
- Stay at rest: resting the body is important so that it has energy to recover;
- Drink at least 2L of water a day: drinking plenty of water is ideal for hydrating cells and allowing the body's organs to work better, as well as improving circulation and helping to eliminate harmful toxins;
- Eat little and every 3 hours: prevents nausea and vomiting, and facilitates the absorption of food by the body;
- Avoid foods that are difficult to digest: foods such as fatty meats, fried foods and sausages should be avoided to facilitate the work of the liver. It is recommended that during hepatitis A the person has a light diet and easy digestion. Find out how to eat during hepatitis A;
- Do not consume alcoholic beverages: this is because alcoholic beverages can worsen liver inflammation, worsening hepatitis symptoms and making recovery difficult;
- Do not take other medicines: it is important to take only medicines prescribed by the doctor, so as not to overload the liver that is already damaged, such as paracetamol, for example.
See the following video for other tips on what to eat while treating hepatitis:
Signs of improvement or worsening
Signs of improvement in hepatitis A usually appear about 10 days after the onset of symptoms, with a decrease in fever, tiredness, nausea and yellow color in the skin and eyes. However, people with weakened immune systems, such as in the case of cancer or frail elderly people, the symptoms may be more intense and take longer to improve. In these cases, too, it is more common to develop the most severe form of the disease, which is fulminant hepatitis.
Although it is more rare, there are cases in which people can get worse, manifesting symptoms such as constant vomiting, fever above 39ºC, drowsiness or severe abdominal pain, for example. In this case, immediate emergency care should be sought.
How to avoid transmission
Although the symptoms of hepatitis A disappear within 10 days, recovery does not happen until after about 2 months and during that time the person can transmit the virus to other people. Thus, to prevent transmission of HAV to others, it is important that the person with hepatitis A wash their hands thoroughly, especially after going to the bathroom. In addition, it is recommended to wash the bathroom with sodium hypochlorite or bleach, as this way it is possible to prevent others who use the same environment from being contaminated.
See how to prevent and prevent hepatitis A.
Created by: Tua Saúde Editorial Team
Bibliography>
- MINISTRY OF HEALTH. Hepatitis: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, prevention and treatment. Available in: . Accessed on Dec 26, 2019
- GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF HEALTH. Hepatitis A. 2017. Available at:. Accessed on Dec 26, 2019