Hepatitis A can be cured because the virus that causes this disease can be eliminated by the body by its own immune system without the need for medication. However, some measures, such as rest, increased water consumption and good nutrition, can accelerate healing.
The hepatitis A virus is transmitted by water and/or food contaminated with feces, causing inflammation in the liver that lasts a few days or weeks and is usually not serious, most of the time it does not even cause symptoms. When symptomatic, there is body pain, nausea, vomiting, yellowing of the skin and eyes, which heal in about 10 days, but can last up to 3 or 4 weeks.
Rarely, hepatitis A can be more serious, affecting the liver within a few days. In this case, it will be classified as fulminant liver failure (FHF) and its treatment may be liver transplantation. Learn more about fulminant liver failure.
What to do to heal faster
Guidelines and treatment for hepatitis A virus must be recommended by the doctor, who will assess each person’s case and severity.
However, some tips can be followed at home to improve recovery, such as:
1. Maintain a good diet
Despite feeling unwell and feeling sick, you must maintain a good diet to provide the energy and nutrients needed to eliminate the virus.
Therefore, you must have a diet based on fruits, vegetables and greens to facilitate the elimination of toxins from the body. See what food should be like in case of hepatitis.
If you have difficulty eating, you should eat small portions at short intervals, and you can also drink fresh fruit juice or milk, for example.
2. Drink plenty of water
Drinking plenty of water, around 2 liters per day, is important to keep the body hydrated and avoid dehydration, especially when vomiting or diarrhea occurs.
For people who have difficulty drinking water, a good option is to add the juice of half a lemon to the water to add flavor and make it easier to drink.
3. Avoid caffeinated drinks
Drinks with caffeine, such as coffee, green tea or black tea, for example, have a diuretic action, which can lead to dehydration, and therefore should be avoided.
4. Rest
Resting is important to help the immune system fight the hepatitis A virus, as well as preventing the body from spending unnecessary energy on other activities.
This is because doing any physical activity when you are sick reduces the body’s defenses, increases the risk of exposure to other infectious agents and delays healing.
5. Avoid taking medication on your own
During hepatitis A treatment, you should avoid taking medication on your own and without proper medical advice, because most medications are metabolized by the liver.
Under no circumstances should paracetamol be taken during the treatment of hepatitis A, as it may overload or cause intoxication.
Likewise, you should avoid drinking teas from medicinal plants without medical advice, as they can also affect the liver.
6. Do not consume alcoholic beverages
To cure hepatitis A faster, you should also not consume alcoholic beverages, as alcohol increases the work of the liver and can contribute to worsening the inflammation caused by the hepatitis A virus.
7. Avoid very hot baths
Avoiding very hot baths, as well as tight clothing or sun exposure, helps relieve itchy skin caused by hepatitis A.
Additionally, you should avoid scratching your skin as it can cause wounds and increase the risk of skin infections.
In cases of intense itchy skin, the doctor may recommend the use of antihistamines, which should only be used with medical advice.
8. Avoid intimate contact
Avoiding intimate contact is also important during hepatitis A treatment, as the virus can be transmitted through many sexual contact routes, which can increase the risk of transmitting the virus to a partner.
9. Not preparing food
Not preparing food helps prevent the transmission of hepatitis A virus infection to other people in the house.
Additionally, when preparing food, the smell can cause or worsen nausea and vomiting.
How to prevent
As it has a shorter and more limited duration, hepatitis A does not become chronic, like hepatitis B and C, and after its cure, the person acquires immunity.
The vaccine is an effective way to prevent the disease, and is recommended for children between 1 and 2 years old and adults who have never had the disease. See other ways to prevent hepatitis A.
Watch the following video and also see how to prevent virus infection:
