HEPATITIS A
What is Hepatitis A?
It is an inflammation of liver caused by Hepatitis A virus.
How it is transmitted?
Hepatitis A is transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food or water or through direct contact with infected person. Mainly, associated with inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene.
What are the symptoms of Hepatitis A?
Incubation period i.e., entry of virus to development of symptoms is 14 to 28 days. Symptoms include fever, malaise, and loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, dark colored urine and jaundice (yellow skin and white of eye turning yellow). Symptoms are more severe in older people.
What are risk factors for developing Hepatitis A?
- Poor sanitation
- Lack of safe water
- Living with person infected with Hepatitis A
- Travelling in areas where there is high prevalence of Hepatitis A
- Sexual contact with infected person
How Hepatitis A is diagnosed?
It is diagnosed by detection of IgM antibodies against HAV (Hepatitis A Virus).
How is Hepatitis A treated?
There is no specific treatment. Recovery takes weeks to months. Avoid medications like pain-killers, paracetamol till you completely recover from jaundice. Maintain adequate nutrition and hydration in case of vomiting and diarrhoea.
How to prevent Hepatitis A infection?
Maintain good hygiene, sanitation and food safety to prevent Hepatitis A.
Regular hand washing, safe drinking water, proper disposal of sewage are effective means of preventing Hepatitis A infection.
Does Homeopathy helps to treat Hepatitis A?
Yes, homeopathic medicines help to relieve the gastro-intestinal symptoms caused by Hepatitis A like nausea, fever, abdominal pains, and aids in resolving inflammation of liver.
Some homeopathic Remedies indicated for Hepatitis A infection:
Cardus marianus
Chelidonium majus
Chionanthus virginica
Myrica cereifera
Natrum sulph
Anyone of these remedies or some other may be indicated depending on the symptoms of the patient, in homeopathy we do not believe in specifics and so it is advisable to get treated at hands of homeopathic doctors.
World Hepatitis Day is on 28th July every year.
Dr. Zubin S Dehmeri, MD(Hom.)
Email: drzubin123dehmeri@gmail.com
Mob: +91-9819219042.
