After Covid-19, now Hepatitis-A has created havoc in Kerala! Identify it with these 7 symptoms

News Topical, Digital Desk : After Covid-19, now many cases of Hepatitis-A are being reported in Kerala. As of Monday, 51 cases of Hepatitis-A were reported in Avoli and Muvattupuzha, out of which 21 were from Avoli. It is suspected that this infection has occurred due to the food served at a pre-wedding function in Avoli, but nothing has been found out for sure yet. Seeing the increasing cases of Hepatitis-A, the health authority of Kerala has become active.

What is Hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A is a viral infection that infects the liver. It is caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). This infection causes inflammation in the liver . Although it is treatable, it can easily spread from an infected person to a healthy person. Therefore, if this happens, more caution is needed.

Hepatitis-A Signs

Symptoms of hepatitis A usually appear 2-6 weeks after infection. Its symptoms can be like this-

• Fatigue and weakness - Feeling of lack of energy in the body.
• Jaundice - Yellowing of the skin and eyes, dark yellow urine.
• Fever and chills – You may have a mild or high fever.
• Loss of appetite - decreased desire to eat.
• Nausea and vomiting- Nausea and vomiting.
• Abdominal pain – especially in the upper right side of the abdomen.
• Joint pain- Feeling pain or discomfort in the joints .

These symptoms can last from a few weeks to two months. In severe cases, hepatitis A can also cause liver failure, although this is very rare.

Causes of Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is primarily spread through the "fecal-oral route" i.e. through the mouth and feces. Contaminated water or food are the main causes.

• Drinking contaminated water- Drinking dirty water can cause infection.
• Unclean or stale food: Raw or undercooked food, especially seafood, can cause infection.
• Coming in contact with an infected person- The virus can spread by coming in contact with the stool or saliva of an infected person.
• Dirt – not washing hands, using dirty utensils, etc.
• Sexual contact – Having unprotected sexual contact with an infected person can also spread the virus.

How to prevent Hepatitis A?

• Vaccine- The hepatitis A vaccine is the most effective way to prevent it. Both children and adults should get this vaccine.
• Drink clean water- Always drink filtered and boiled water. Do not drink water kept in any dirty place or in the open.
• Eat fresh food- Viruses can grow in stale food. So always eat fresh food. Apart from this, eat fruits and vegetables only after washing them thoroughly. Eat non-veg food after cooking it thoroughly. Do not eat food sold in the open or pre-cut fruits.
• Personal hygiene- Wash hands with soap before eating and after toilet. Also, do not use towels, utensils, razors etc. of the infected person.
• Safe Sexual Contact- Avoid unsafe sexual contact.

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