JAKARTA, iNews.id – Today is World Hepatitis Day which is celebrated every July 28th. Hepatitis has several different types, namely A, B, C, D and E. The five have different characteristics.
One of them Hepatitis A which is different from hepatitis B, ranging from modes of transmission, chronic infections, to antiviral drugs. Hepatitis A tends to be lighter than hepatitis B, because it does not cause chronic infection, but this infectious disease is also not found antiviral drugs.
“Hepatitis A is an acute infection in the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), an RNA virus caused by the oral faecal route,” said Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Irsan Hasan, SpPD-KGEH, in the 2020 World Hepatitis Day Webinar, Tuesday (7/28/2020).
Because through oral faecal, hepatitis A can be transmitted through consumption of contaminated food or drinks. “This virus is quite resistant and is often transmitted in certain conditions, especially when food is not cooked, such as vegetables,” he said.
Poor hygiene and sanitation such as the habit of not washing hands can also be a transmission of the hepatitis A virus.
Unlike hepatitis B which is asymptomatic and can be a silent killer, hepatitis A has several symptoms that can be observed and felt.
Starting from a decrease in appetite, yellow, fatigue, joint pain, diarrhea, fever, upper abdominal pain, vomiting, to colored urine like tea and abnormal colored stools.
“There is no antiviral drug for hepatitis A. However, this disease can be cured with supportive therapy such as rest, adequate fluids and nutrition, and overcome complaints felt by patients,” he said. “It would be better if given a vaccination,” he said.
Editor : Tuty Ocktaviany
