Viral hepatitis are infections that affect the liver and can cause mild, moderate or severe impacts to the body. In general, they are silent diseases that can remain without symptoms for years.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), an agency similar to Anvisa, in the United States, said it was investigating a possible link between an outbreak of hepatitis A and the consumption of organic strawberries in the United States.
According to the Ministry of Health, cases of hepatitis A in Brazil are concentrated in the North and Northeast regions, which together account for 55.7% of all confirmed cases in the period from 1999 to 2018. The Southeast, South and Center regions -West cover 17.7%, 15.4% and 11.2% of cases in the country, respectively, according to the ministry.
Basic hygiene measures and sanitation structure contribute to disease prevention. For children from 15 months to 5 years of age and priority groups, the vaccine against hepatitis A is available in the Unified Health System (SUS).
Know the main symptoms, how the transmission and treatment of the disease happens.
How Hepatitis A is Transmitted
Hepatitis A contamination occurs through the fecal-oral route, that is, through contact between individuals or through contaminated water or food. The disease usually spreads in regions with precarious conditions or that do not have water and sewage treatment.
According to the Ministry of Health, other forms of transmission are close personal contacts, between residents of the same house, homeless people or children in day care centers, in addition to sexual contacts, especially in men who have sex with men.
The main forms of prevention are the improvement of the basic sanitation network and the adoption of hygiene habits, such as regular washing of hands and food consumed raw, in addition to the proper cleaning of dishes, glasses and cutlery.
Prevention measures recommended by the Ministry of Health:
- Wash your hands (especially after going to the bathroom, changing diapers, and before cooking)
- Wash foods that are eaten raw with treated, chlorinated or boiled water
- Cook food well, especially shellfish, seafood and fish
- Properly wash dishes, glasses, cutlery and baby bottles
- Adopt strict hygiene measures in day care centers, preschools and restaurants
- Do not enter ditches, streams, fountains or floods
- Use condoms and sanitize hands, genitals and anal area before and after intercourse
- Sanitize vibrators and other erotic accessories
Symptoms and treatment of the disease
Hepatitis A virus infection is not always symptomatic. When symptoms occur, patients may experience tiredness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, in addition to having yellow skin and eyes, dark urine and pale stools. Signs usually appear between two and six weeks and last for less than two months.
Researcher Lia Lewis, from the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC/Fiocruz) explains that the diagnosis is made through a blood test. In addition, there are no specific treatments for the infection and healing usually happens spontaneously.
“Type A presents only acute forms of hepatitis, that is, the individual can recover completely, eliminating the virus from his body. Most cases of hepatitis E have this same profile”, explains Lia.
Medical recommendations, which help to prevent serious conditions, include avoiding self-medication, maintaining a balanced diet and replacing fluids, when necessary, in cases of symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea.
Vaccination
Hepatitis A can also be prevented through vaccination. Immunization is recommended for people over one year, in a two-dose schedule, with an interval of six months. The vaccine is not widely available to the population: it is offered by the Unified Health System (SUS) for children between 15 months and 5 years of age at Basic Health Units (UBS).
The vaccine is also available free of charge at the Reference Centers for Special Immunobiologicals (CRIE) for people with clinical conditions at risk for hepatitis A, such as chronic liver diseases, people with hepatitis B and C virus, clotting disorders, people who living with HIV, immunocompromised, solid organ or bone marrow transplant recipients, among others. In the private network, the immunizer is available for children from 12 months, adolescents and adults.
Source: CNN Brasil
