Hepatitis A is a highly contagious infection of the liver usually spread via food or water contaminated with the hepatitis A virus, or through contact with an infected person. The symptoms of hepatitis A include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, fever, and jaundice. These symptoms generally don't present themselves until weeks after the initial contact with the virus. There are no actual hepatitis A treatments, but most doctors recommend that patients get as much rest as possible, and avoid alcohol and other drugs.
Getting enough rest is very important for treating hepatitis A. Many doctors recommend almost complete bed rest. Adults are advised to stay home from work and parents should keep children out of school until the symptoms disappear. This can sometimes take as little as a couple weeks, but it can take as long as a month or two.
Resting the body as much as possible is important because it gives the body's immune system a chance to help fight the virus. Eventually the immune system will rid the virus from a person's body. Some antiviral medications may be used as hepatitis A treatments, but they are rarely prescribed.
Patients who have contracted hepatitis A are warned to stay away from alcohol as well as any other drugs or medications that can put a strain on their livers. If this warning is not heeded, recovery may take longer than necessary. By speaking with his doctor, a patient can find out which medications he can still take and which ones he can't. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are two over-the-counter pain medications that have been known to cause liver damage in some people. Doctors dealing with hepatitis A treatments will most likely warn hepatitis A sufferers to stay away from these medicines.
Nausea and other digestive problems are some of the symptoms many hepatitis A patients find hard to deal with. In some cases, a doctor may prescribe an anti-nausea or anti-diarrheal medication as part of hepatitis A treatments. The patient is usually advised to eat a number of smaller meals throughout the day, instead of three large ones.
The best types of foods for hepatitis A patients are ones that are easily digested. Crackers, dry toast, soup, gelatin, and broth are all easily digested foods that are usually tolerated well by those recovering from hepatitis. Some natural cures for nausea may also help, such as ginger, chamomile, peppermint, ginger ale, cumin seeds, and cider vinegar. Many people find herbal and other natural medicines to be quite useful as hepatitis A treatments.
