An Alternative Medicine Network

			HerbsMed.com Training
	An Alternative Medicine Network

	News \| Herbs \| Acupuncture \| Massage \| Chinese diet \| More… \| Common illness \| Clinics \| Consult specialists

Common Illness

Amebiasis
Anthrax
Arboviral Infections
Babesiosis
Botulism
Brucellosis
Campylobacteriosis
Chancroid
Chickenpox
Cholera
Dengue Fever
Diphtheria
E. coli
Fifth Disease
Giardiasis
Gonorrhea Gonococcal Infection
Granuloma Inguinale
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis B?
Herpes II
Haemophilus lnfluenzae
Histoplasmosis
Influenza (flu)
Kawasaki Syndrome
Legionellosis
Leprosy
Leptospirosis
Lyme Disease
Lymphogranuloma Venereum
Malaria
Measles
Meningococcal Meningitis
Infectious Mononucleosis
Mumps
Mycoplasma Infection
Pediculosis
Pertussis
HERNIA
Poliomyelitis
Psittacosis
Rabies
Ringworm
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Salmonellosis
Scabies
Shigellosis
Shingles
Swimmer's Itch
Syphilis
Tuberculosis
Tetanus
Trichinosis
Typhoid Fever
Viral Meningitis
Yersiniosis
AIDS
HEMOPHILIA
HYPERTENSION
IRITIS
EPILEPSY
SCOLIOSIS
HEARTBURN
DIPHTHERIA
SINUSITIS
CARDIAC ARREST
BULIMIA
KIDNEY STONES
PARKINSON'S DISEASE
SUNBURN
SNAKEBITE
SHOCK
PLEURISY
ORAL CANCER
HEAT STROKE
EYE TUMOR
RUPTURED EARDRUM
ANXIETY
DEHYDRATION

Hepatitis A (infectious hepatitis)

What is hepatitis A? Hepatitis A (formerly known as infectious hepatitis) is a liver disease caused by a specific virus.

Who gets hepatitis A? Anyone can get hepatitis A, but it occurs more frequently in children.

How is the virus spread? The hepatitis A virus enters through the mouth, multiplies in the body and is passed in the feces. The virus can then be carried on an infected person's hands and can be spread by direct contact, or by consuming food or drink that has been handled by the individual. In some cases, it can be spread by consuming water contaminated with improperly treated sewage.

What are the symptoms of hepatitis A?

Fatigue
Poor Appetite
Fever
Vomiting
Dark Urine
Jaundice of skin and eyes

How soon do symptoms appear? The symptoms may appear two to six weeks after exposure, but usually within three to four weeks.

For how long is an infected person able to spread the virus? The contagious period begins about a week or so before the symptoms appear, and extends up to the time of jaundice.

Does past infection with hepatitis A make a person immune? Once an individual recovers from hepatitis A, he or she is immune for life and does not continue to carry the virus.

What is the treatment for hepatitis A? There are no special medicines or antibiotics that can be used to treat a person once the symptoms appear. Generally, bed rest is all that is needed.

How can hepatitis A be prevented? A vaccine is not currently available. The single most effective way to prevent spread is careful handwashing after using the toilet. Also, infected people should not handle foods during the contagious period. Household members or others in close contact with an infected person should call a doctor or the health department to obtain a shot of immune globulin which minimizes their chances of becoming ill.

Having any comments or suggestions?
Send it us online or email it to us. Thank you!

All information on medicine and health products in this web site is listed for reference or education purposes only and should not be taken as medical suggestions, recommendations or professional guidance. Should there be any discrepancies between the content on the web site and product introductions of manufactures, the latter should prevail. Please follow the advice of your doctor.