How is hepatitis A treated?

Hepatitis A treatment is designed to alleviate symptoms and help the body recover more quickly, and the doctor may recommend the use of medication to relieve pain, fever and nausea, as well as 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-grade fever that lasts about 10 days. Learn how to identify the signs and symptoms of hepatitis A.

Hepatitis A is a self-limited disease, that is, the body itself is capable of eliminating the virus naturally, with symptoms disappearing after around 10 days and complete recovery in approximately 2 months.

Despite this, it is important that the person consults a general practitioner or infectious disease specialist if they present any sign or symptom that is indicative of hepatitis A to prevent the virus from causing more serious inflammation in the liver, which may be recommended by the doctor:

1. Home measurements

Treatment for hepatitis A can only be done with home measures with the aim of promoting faster recovery and favoring the elimination of the virus from the body. Therefore, it is recommended that the person rest and drink plenty of water during the day to hydrate the cells and allow the body’s organs to work better, in addition to improving circulation and helping to eliminate harmful toxins.

2. Use of medicines

Although hepatitis A can be resolved without the need for specific treatment, the doctor may recommend the use of medicines that help alleviate symptoms. Therefore, the use of analgesics, anti-inflammatories and anti-nausea medications may be recommended.

Furthermore, it is important that the treatment is followed according to the doctor’s instructions and that there are no other medications other than those recommended, as this will help prevent liver overload.

3. Food

It is also important to be careful with your diet during treatment for hepatitis A, and it is important to avoid very fatty foods, as this can prevent further inflammation and facilitate digestion. Furthermore, it is recommended to eat little and every 3 hours, as it helps prevent nausea and vomiting, and facilitate the absorption of food in the body. See what food should be like in case of hepatitis.

It is also recommended not to consume alcoholic beverages for a period of 6 months to 1 year, as alcoholic beverages can worsen liver inflammation, worsening the symptoms of hepatitis and making recovery difficult.

Check out the video below for other tips on what to eat during hepatitis treatment:

Signs of improvement or worsening

Signs of improvement in hepatitis A generally appear approximately 10 days after the onset of symptoms, with a decrease in fever, tiredness, nausea and the yellowish color of the skin and eyes. However, in people with a weakened immune system, such as cancer or older people, symptoms may be more intense and take longer to improve. In these cases, it is also more common to develop the most serious form of the disease, which is fulminant hepatitis.

Although it is rarer, there are cases in which people can get worse, manifesting symptoms such as constant vomiting, fever above 39ºC, drowsiness or intense abdominal pain, for example. In this case, immediate emergency care should be sought, as it may be indicative of fulminant hepatitis.

How to avoid transmission

Although the symptoms of hepatitis A disappear within 10 days, recovery only happens after about 2 months and during this period the person can transmit the virus to other people. Therefore, to avoid transmitting HAV to other people, it is important for people with hepatitis A to wash their hands well, especially after going to the bathroom. Furthermore, it is recommended to wash the bathroom with sodium hypochlorite or bleach, as this will prevent other people who use the same environment from becoming contaminated.