Hepatitis A: Diagnosis and Treatment
What can be done at home?
- Keep rest while the disease is still present. The degree of rest depends on how is the patient.
- Do not drink alcohol while you are sick.
- Make a light but balanced diet.
How is it diagnosed hepatitis type A?
The diagnosis is based on an analysis showing the presence of antibodies against hepatitis A in the blood of the patient. There are two types of antibodies. IgG only indicate that the patient has had hepatitis type A at some point in their lives. IgM antibodies are indicative of recent infection and are used to diagnose the disease.Blood tests may reveal the intensity of the disease, ie, to what extent the liver is damaged by the virus. It is very characteristic elevation of transaminases (aminotransferases), which can exceed 2000 IU / ml, especially GPT (ALT). Blood bilirubin rises in direct proportion to the degree of yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes.
Prognosis
- Very few patients (approximately 1 in 1,000) liver failure with the risk of dying from the disease. This risk is slightly higher if the patient is an adult.
- Most patients recover within four to eight weeks.
- The type A hepatitis never becomes chronic.
Once a person recovers from hepatitis A, is immune to the virus of hepatitis A for the rest of their lives and never develop the disease again.
How is type A hepatitis?
There is no specific medical treatment.
Gamma globulin may reduce the severity of the disease when given to people who have been exposed to hepatitis A but have not yet developed symptoms.