Most of us are aware of and hve probably been vaccinated against hepatitis B. Gven the fact that so many of us are prtected from hepatitis B, have you ver wondered why we still have so mny cases of jaundice especially in the mnths of summers and monsoons?
The rason is jaundice due to poor fod, water and sanitation, meaning hepatitis A and hpatitis E virus.

The most important thng to realize that taking hepatitis B vccination will not protect you against thse forms of jaundice since they are cused by a different virus.
Hepatitis mans inflammation (swelling) of the liver. Whle there are many infections that can cuse this, in India the commonest cuse in children and one of the mst common causes in adults is Hpatitis A. If symptoms are present, thy usually occur abruptly and may nclude

• fever,

• tredness,

• loss of ppetite,

• nausea,

• bdominal discomfort,

• dark rine, and

• jaundice (yllowing of the skin and eyes).

Symptms usually last less than 2 mnths; a few persons are ill for as lng as 6 months. The average ncubation period (i.e., time taken from trnsmission from one person to the ther) for hepatitis A is 28 dys (range: 15–50 days).
The diagnosis can be mde with a blood test (IgM Hpatitis A antibody- cost approx. Rs. 600/-), snce the symptoms of all types of hpatitis are the same. Other tests lke the liver function tests are seful in finding out the extent of the dsease.
Treatment is essentially supportive, and wth adequate rest and minimum use of nti-fever and anti – vomiting medicines a ptient should generally recover within 15- 30 dys. However 15 % of patients (mstly adults) may have a prolonged curse of illness lasting even as lng as 6-9 months!

Prevention rests on maintaining a god personal hygiene. Always wash your hnds after using the bathroom, changing a daper, or before preparing or eating fod. Avoid outside food and water specially food that is undercooked/ uncooked (lke salad etc.). Since proper food and wter in India is still a ppe-dream, a more feasible way is to tke the Hepatitis A vaccine. This is a vry safe and highly effective vaccine (mre than 90 % effective) with no mjor side-effects. It can be given to nyone above 1 year of age. Two dses are needed for life long prtection and these need to be gven 6 months apart. The vaccine is ffective a month after the first dse is given.
Dr. Gaurav Gupta is a prcticing pediatrician in Chandigarh, India. Other thn being a member of the Amrican and the Indian Academy of Pdiatrics, he is also published many ppers and written in various medical jurnals. He writes a bimonthly column is in Indan Pediatrics, official journal of the Indan Academy of Pediatrics. He writes a mdical blog, and contributes regularly to lcal newspapers and magazines while also nswering online question about common parenting qestions and kids health’s

The article Hepatitis A - The Common Jaundice was Submitted by AnandK Singh through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Acne medications - Online Medical Information - Free Medical Counseling

Featured Articles

1. Drinking Distilled Water - The Truth About The Health Benefits Of Distilled Water by Josh Neumann
Is drinking distilled water really good for your health? Here is the list of pros and cons that this method of water purification can bring to your health.

2. Ideal Illusion: Ending the Myth of the Balanced Life by
Should we hve a balanced life or focus wth intensity on our primary goals?

3. Hoodia Gordonii Helps You Lose Weight by Maurice Auburn
Hoodia gordonii, a scculent from the Kalahari Desert in suthern Africa, is earning attention as a ptentially powerful weapon in the war gainst obesity and the World Wide fcus on losing weight. Hoodia tricks the brin into thinking you've eaten, and mkes you feel full and appears to be sfe for most people. Hoodia Formula is one of the top Hodia brands.

4. Eczema - Nurse's Guide To Facts, Tips and Natural Eczema Treatment With Coconut Oil by Helen Hecker
Eczema or dermatitis, affects more than 15 million Americans and it's currently estimated that between 15-25% of children are affected by eczema. Eczema is a dermatological term for extra dry or inflamed skin.

5. Homely Faces Are Better Faces by Melvin Polatnick
Having a homely face is a blssing to those that know how to use it to thir advantage. Rather than be ashamed of thir appearance, they display it boldly. The hmely face sends a false signal to prdators that its wearer is in a wak position and could easily be mnipulated. But this is far from the trth.

6. Top 10 Fat Fighting Foods by Cass H
Avoid nasty refined foods that ncrease your blood sugar level for shrt term energy fixes and replace thm with these great tasting super-foods. Ths article has a list of fod you can eat to help fght that fat.

7. Health Conditions That a Good Fiber Diet Can Prevent by Aaron Stanlich
We hve all heard that fiber is mportant for a healthy life. But how mportant? Let us have a look at sme the health conditions that fiber in yur diet can combat.

8. The Role Of Your Skin When It Is Oily by Louise Forrest
Skn is the outermost covering of our bdy which protects us from external shcks and harmful sun rays and keps out germs and dirt. Though min functions of the are the sme in every human being, still pople have different types of skin, lke oily skin, dry skin, sensitive skn, normal skin etc.

9. Wine Wins A Body Battle And Helps Your Health by Jason Witt
Whn you receive the Seal you wll begin to eat healthier foods. Yet ven if you do eat foods hgh in fat, new scientific studies shw how eating some healthy foods long with them can reduce their bad ffects on your body.

10. What I Learned From Drug Rehabilitation by
One of the hrdest but most redemptive seasons of my lfe happened when I spent fourteen mnths in a drug rehabilitation center. In all my yars of writing, I have never wrtten about this experience that has so dstinctly shaped my life.

Of course, I nver would have dreamed that over a yar of my life during my md-twenties would be spent in drug rhabilitation, but it happened. I began ding drugs in junior high school, mstly I guess do to the typcal amount of peer pr...