Pharmacy Clinical Pearl of the Day: Hepatitis A

Clinical Pearl of the Day: Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus.

Insight:

• The virus is one of several types of hepatitis that cause inflammation and affect the liver's ability to function.
• Hepatitis A is most likely to be contracted from contaminated food, water, or from close contact with a person or object that's infected.
• Symptoms may include fatigue, sudden nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, low-grade fever, dark urine, joint pain, yellowish skin, and intense itching.
• Causes may include a virus that infects the liver cells and causes inflammation.
• Hepatitis A can spread from eating food handled by someone with the virus, drinking contaminated water, eating raw shellfish, and being in close contact with an infected person.
• Risk factors include travel or work in the areas where hepatitis A is common, attending childcare or working in a childcare center with another person who has hepatitis A, sexual contact with someone who has hepatitis A, experiencing homelessness, and having clotting-factor disorder, such as hemophilia.
• Treatment options include no specific treatment, besides rest, managing nausea, and avoiding alcohol. Rest can increase energy, as can snacking, drinking a lot of juice instead of water, and staying hydrated to help with nausea.

Sources:

• Hepatitis A - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
• hepatitis a - Google Search