I'm sure you've heard of hepatitis B often, but do you know anything about hepatitis A, which sounds very similar to hepatitis B? Although these two liver diseases have similar names, there are many differences in their nature. This post will take you through a detailed explanation of hepatitis A as a liver disease.

Hepatitis A is an ancient infectious disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). While the hepatitis B virus as we know it is mainly transmitted through blood, mother-to-child, and sex, the hepatitis A virus is mainly transmitted through contaminated food and water or through direct contact with an infected person [1].

This mode of transmission makes the hepatitis A virus highly contagious, and in 1988 there was a major outbreak of hepatitis A in Shanghai, with more than 300,000 infected persons [2]. Hepatitis A virus enters the digestive tract, invades liver cells, and replicates there. The immune system detects the virus in the liver and mounts a series of immune responses that kill the virus and damage the liver cells, leading to hepatitis.

Consumption of food contaminated with the hepatitis A virus is one of the most important causes of hepatitis A infection. The 1988 outbreak of hepatitis A was caused by the consumption of wild arkshells, which are a type of seafood, and when the water is contaminated with the hepatitis A virus, the virus accumulates in the digestive glands of the arkshells, so that if raw arkshells with the virus are eaten, there is a risk of contracting the hepatitis A virus. Besides arkshells, shellfish such as oysters, clams, and clams have the possibility of spreading the virus. So when we eat seafood products, we should pay attention not to eat raw, and the method of eating with boiling water is not feasible, the temperature and time is not enough, the virus can not be completely killed, must be washed and cooked before eating.

In addition to food and water, direct contact with an infected person can also spread the hepatitis A virus, and in the 1988 hepatitis A epidemic, there were many patients who had not eaten arkshells, and most of them were infected with hepatitis A virus after close contact with infected people. Hepatitis A virus can be excreted with feces. If we do not pay attention to hygiene and touch food or water without washing our hands after going to the toilet, it will cause contamination, and it can be transmitted to others when we come into contact with others. So we have to pay attention to wash our hands in our daily life, not only to prevent hepatitis A, but also to prevent other different bacterial and viral infections.

So what are the symptoms if you are infected with the hepatitis A virus?

Patients may experience fever, loss of appetite, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, and jaundice [3]. Hepatitis A is a self-limiting disease with acute hepatitis, no chronicity, and a better prognosis. In contrast, hepatitis B virus infection of the human body is often a chronic course of the disease, which can be manifested as hepatitis B virus carriers, chronic hepatitis, and so on, and there is no specific drug cure.

Although hepatitis A is not scary, but in some areas with poor sanitation, do not pay attention to food safety, as well as some child care institutions there are still circulating cases, we should pay attention to the prevention of ordinary life. Safe water supply, food safety, improved sanitation, frequent hand washing, no raw seafood and vaccination against hepatitis A are the most effective ways to fight this disease. If there is a hepatitis A patient in your home, it is important to seek medical attention and isolate him/her promptly. Items used by the patient should be handled separately and the home should be fully disinfected to prevent the spread of hepatitis A in the family and community.