UAH nurses give advice to prevent hepatitis, hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is on the rise in Alabama. In December, the Alabama Public Health Department sounded the alarm about an outbreak of hepatitis A (hepatitis A) in Jackson County, the northernmost county. is the state. Hepatitis A contracts through contaminated food that has not been washed properly before being eaten or handled by someone who does not wash their hands well. .

"Hepatitis is a liver disease caused by a virus that causes inflammation of the liver and can sometimes lead to liver failure," said Connie Abbott (MSN, CRNP), faculty clinic and staff of the # 39; UAH. Abbott noted that there are three types of hepatitis:

• Hepatitis A: an acute condition contracted mainly by the fecal-oral route. It is an acute illness that usually goes away on its own without any long term effects. There is a vaccine against hepatitis A.
• Hepatitis B: An acute condition that can become chronic and cause liver failure or liver cancer. It is spread by contact with the blood and / or bodily fluids of an infected individual. There is a vaccine against hepatitis B.
• Hepatitis C: Acute condition that may become chronic (75 to 85% of cases) and may cause liver failure. It is also spread by contact with the blood and / or bodily fluids of an infected individual. No vaccine is available but the disease can be treated.

Abbott explained that hepatitis A can also develop by drinking contaminated water and in close contact with an infected person. But, she noted, you could not catch the disease by sneezing or coughing. The symptoms of hepatitis A may not appear several weeks after the start of the infection and may include:

• Tired
• Sudden nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pain or discomfort, especially in the upper right corner under the lower ribs (near the liver)
• Clay-colored saddle
• Loss of appetite
• Low grade fever
• Dark urine
• Articular pain
• Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
• Intense itching

Most symptoms of hepatitis A infection are mild and disappear within a few weeks. However, in rare cases, the disease can cause serious illness and last for several months. A vaccine against hepatitis A is available and recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for specific populations.

Abbott said the vaccine is given in two injections, six months apart. Shooting is currently not available from the UAH Staff Clinic and Faculties www.uah.edu/clinic/services. Abbott said the injections are available at the Alabama Department of Public Health and at some doctors.

"The best way to prevent hepatitis A is to wash your hands," said Abbott. "Wash your hands after using the bathroom, before and after handling food, and after changing diapers.When washing hands, use warm water and soap. towel and use it to close the faucet and even to open the door if it is a public toilet. "If you belong to one of the risk categories, do to vaccinate you. For more information, visit: www.cdc.gov/hepatits/hav mayoclinic.org.

Abbott said while traveling; be sure to follow the following precautions:

• Peel and wash all fresh fruits and vegetables yourself.
• Do not eat raw or undercooked meat and fish.
• Drink bottled water and use it to brush your teeth.
• Avoid all drinks of unknown purity, with or without ice.
• If bottled water is not available, boil the tap water before drinking it.

Provided by
University of Alabama at Huntsville