Hepatitis A
Alternate Names : Hepatovirus Infection
What are the treatments for the infection?
Treatment of hepatitis A includes:
bed rest
drinking extra fluids to prevent
dehydration
avoiding unnecessary medications
avoiding
alcohol
eating a well balanced diet for liver
disease
taking antinausea medications as needed
Antiviral and anti-inflammatory medications are not helpful for the treatment
of hepatitis A.
Acute fulminant hepatitis can cause life-threatening liver failure. This
requires a hospital stay and treatment for the bleeding disorder,as well as for neurological
and nutritional problems. Sometimes, the only effective treatment is a
liver transplant.
What are the side effects of the treatments?
The side effects of treatment for routine hepatitis A are minimal. Problems
associated with the hepatitis A vaccine are minimal, as well. A person who has
been exposed to the virus and is injected with serum immunoglobulin as a
precaution may feel some pain at the injection site or have a mild, brief
flu-like illness.
A liver
transplant for acute
fulminant hepatitis can cause many problems, including failure or rejection of
the new liver. After a liver transplant, a person will need to take powerful
antirejection medications for the rest of his or her life. Side effects of
these medications increase the risk for infections, certain cancers, and other
problems.
What happens after treatment for the infection?
After the hepatitis A is resolved, the person will no longer need medications.
He or she can return to normal activities, even if some jaundice remains.
How is the infection monitored?
The healthcare provider will often repeat the
liver function tests to assure that they are normal. Other tests,
like
liver ultrasound or CAT scans, are not needed.
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