Hepatitis A description
Hepatitis A, also known as infectious hepatitis is a fatal infectious disease that affects the liver. This disease is caused by an RNA virus called the hepatitis A virus (Connor, 2005). Water is the medium of survival of the virus. It can survive both in fresh and salty water conditions. The virus enters the body through the anal opening or the mouth. The virus can be found in contaminated food or water. Hepatitis A has become a common disease in the world because its mode of transmission is very easy. A patient infected by this disease does not show any signs of infection during the first stage. The first stage is called the incubation period. This period takes an average of about 28 days before the real symptoms can be observed (Connor, 2005). Hepatitis A is more common in poor countries where access to clean water is a problem. However, infections by the Hepatitis A virus do not show any clinical signs. In addition, people who have been infected with the virus can still live a long life. Therefore, less emphasis has been given to this disease.
Hepatitis A transmission
Hepatitis A is transmitted into the body through the anal opening or the mouth. People who live and drink dirty water are more likely to be infected by the virus. Overpopulation can also cause the presence of the virus. Blood transfusion using the blood of an infected person can lead to transmission of the virus. Another way through which the virus gets its way into the body is through food. This is common with shellfish. The fish lives in water that has the virus. When people feed on the fish chances are high that the virus will be ingested. An infected person can transmit the disease even during the incubation period. Children are more prone to infections than adults. Antibodies are produced when the virus enters the body. The body then becomes resistant to further infections by the virus. This is why the infection rate among adults is low.
The Center for Disease Control has recently confirmed that 143 people are suffering from the disease. The virus was caused by the Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend. The outbreak has affected 8 states. The state of California recorded the highest number of casualties with 69 reported cases (Ryan, 2004)
Hepatitis A symptoms
Symptoms cannot be noticed easily during the incubation period. However, other clinical symptoms persist during the acute stage. The early symptom appears like influenza. Advanced symptoms are fatigue excitement, vomiting, loss of appetite, colored feces, dark-colored urine, and the patient’s skin color appears yellow. Usually, these symptoms appear when the patient stayed for two months after the infection. Prevention is through improved hygiene and access to clean water. However, vaccination using the hepatitis A vaccine is the best method of prevention (Ryan, 2004)
Hepatitis A prevention
Further prevention of outbreaks; both environmental and individual measures should be undertaken. Water pollution should be reduced. Waste should not be dumped into the water bodies as it may contain the virus. Overpopulation causes a health hazard. Settlement places should not be congested to reduce competition for resources that leads to a health hazard. Individual measures include personal hygiene. Everybody should make sure that proper personal hygiene is maintained. Drinking water should be treated before being used. Also, all newborn babies should be vaccinated.
References
Connor, B.A. (2005). Hepatitis A vaccine in the last-minute traveler. American Medical Journal, 118(10), 58-62.
Ryan, K. (2004). Sherris Medical Microbiology. New York: McGraw Hill press.