Hepatitis A Virus

Hey guys , so yesterday I have told you all a brief description on Viral Hepatitis . So today I am going to explain to you all Hepatitis A. If you didn't catch yesterday's post here it is.
https://steemit.com/air-clinic/@ashley4u/viral-hepatitis-a-short-review

So let's start Hepatitis A Virus (HAV).

Hepatitis A was first discovered in 1973 , in stools of patients by Feinstone and his colleagues using IEM techniques.

HAV is also from the family 😪 which causes common cold and even polio. But the most important factor is that it has a RNA instead of DNA.

IgM specific antibodies against HAV (anti-HAV) can be detected in serum at early stage of Infection . That shows recent Infection. The test is positive from the time of onset of symptoms and it remains positive for about 4 months. Some patients can even have low levels of IgM and anti- HAV for more than 1 year after the initial infection.

IgG anti - HAV is seen at the onset of the disease , and remains present for life , following clinical recovery , and us read as a marker of previous HAV infection.

HAV can be found in 🐚 shellfish , seawater , freshwater , wastewater and soil , it survives for several months. This virus is very much resistant to Freezing 🙅, Detergents 🙆 and Acids 🙍.

It is also one of the major causes for acute hepatitis and Liver failure throughout the world.

Who are the Sources of Infection???

The patients at acute stage or those who are infected latently are the main sources of infection.

What all are the Routes of Transmission??

Usually HAV is transmitted through fecal- oral route ( enterically) , mostly by ingestion ( eating) of contaminated food or drinking contaminated water and even through contact ( person to person contact)within the household.
Crowded or unsanitary conditions are the common places.

Rarely, but parenteral Transmission is possible , because of the use of contaminated blood products , which is possible.

But Vertical Transmission is very not Common.

Who are the Susceptible Population or who are at risk??

People who are at risk include :
1• People who are traveling to endemic areas
2• Day care workers
3• Millitary personnel
4• Homosexuals with multiple sexual partners
5• Institutionalized Patients
6• Intravenous Drug users

IgM and IgG against HAV will appear in the acute phase of the illness and IgG antibody persists in the serum , providing lifelong immunity.

Some Bonus 🤵🏻 Points on HAV

• Humans are the PRINCIPAL HOST of HAV.
• More than 70%of infections in children who are younger than 6 are usually asymptomatic.
• More than 80% of the patients develop Jaundice.
• Uncommon Clinical feature of acute HAV includes *** Development of Cholestatic hepatitis.
• Fulminant Hepatitis occurs in less than 1% of acute HAV cases. Elderly or people with Chronic Liver disease are at high risk for progressing into Fulminant liver failure.
• Liver Transplantation may be necessary for the patients who fail to improve.

Next post will be about Hepatitis B , Treatement will be in the last post related to Hepatitis.

I hope you guys understood Hepatitis A Virus.