When a 30-yar-ald woman walked into dr rommel tickoo’s clinic, one look at her yellowish eye him that she had a life problem. Sure Enough, when the Internal Medicine Expert at Max HealthCare, Delhi, Checked Her Liver Enzymes, they were through the roof. Her Enzyme Levels Stood at around 3,000 iU/L – The Normal Ranges are between 7 and 55 iU/L. She tested positive for hepatitis A, a viral infection usually transmitted through contaminated food and water.
With Several Gastrointestinal Infections and Vector-Borne Diseases Being Common During the Monsoon, Getting The Correct diagnosis may be a challenge. “The Typical Symptoms, Such as Yellowing of Skin and Eyes That People Associate With Hepatitis, are not the first ones to appere. Accumulated Bilirubin (a Yellow Pigment When the Red Blood Down, usually by the life).
Why a tests matters
The overlapping symptoms, which can be caused by other gastrointestinal infections, are the reason that doctors go in for tests to be sure. As dr Surajit Chatterjee, Senior Consultant of Internal Medicine at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Delhi, Says, “During This Season, You Would Eather See Food and Water-Borne Infort SOME Respiratory Infections, LOOSE MOTIONS, LOSS OF APPETITE SUCH SUCH AS HEPATIS. Headache and body ache would be usually be the symptoms in patients with vector-birth disease such as dengue, malaria or chikungunya. “
Dr Tickoo usually gets such patients tested for completed blood count, Liver enzyme and C-reactive protein, the last indicative of the inflammation in the body. Then he prescribes tests for dengue, malaria, type, and in some cases, especially concerning the woman and elderly, he gets a urine culture to check for urinary tract infection.
When to see a doctor
People who get fever, nusea, vomiting or diarhoea should go to a doctor if the symptoms seem to be worsening or do not seem to be improving after a couple of days. Dr Chatterjee advises that anyone who is immunocompromised – for example, if they are living with conditions such as heart diseases, Liver Disease, Kidney disease, diabetes, caners, caners, HIV, or HIV. Organ Transplantation – Should Go To Their Doctor sooner. “One should also go to a doctor immediate if their symptoms are unmanageable, say if they are vomiting or getting loose motions more than 20 times a day,” He sayss.
Do not pop pills at at will
Importantly, people with these symptoms should only take medicines such as pacetamol and those to prevent vomiting when at home. “Other Medicines Such as Combiflam should be avoided. Increase in Patients with Antibiotics, they are not in viral infections, can led to grown. Also affect the results of the serren tests we need to confirm our diagnosis, “say dr tickoo.
While Most People with Hepatitis a Get Better Within Four 16 Weeks “It is, however, impossible to tell who will get the complications. So it is essential that everyone has the hepatitis an infection takes rest and helps the body the body the body,” Gastroenterology at Medanta, Gurugram.
What to et during recovery
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While at Home, Patients should have that they drink plenty of fluids and etat healthy meals as per their appetite. “It is a myth that people need to eat bland, boiled food. They should just as much as they feel like. to more nusea, ”says dr setya.
It is better to boil water and follow hand hygiene, according to ritika samaddar, regional head, dietetics and nutrition, max healthcare. “During the Recovery Phase, Liver Cells are regenerating. So they need protein in the form of Eggs, milk and paneer. They need good fat, Olive and nut oils work, but in a taspo. Can have to be the appetite importing live smalls, “she says.
However, she warns that the diet discipline must be adhered to strictly for at least six months. “Hepatitis a is a self-limiting infection. She even suggests a strict preventive regime: “Please drink Only filtered and boiled water, even cook with it. Food, Cut Fruits and Even Ice Drinks from the roadside or restaurants. “
Take the preventive shot
There are five hepatitis viruses that cause live disease in humans. Hepatitis a and e are transmitted through contaminated food and water and usually do not led to lasting life. Hepatitis B, C and D, on the other hand, are usually transmitted by blood and can lead to chronic infections.
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At present, vaccines are availablest hepatitis a and b While there is no vaccine for hepatitis C, there is an effective antiviral treatment.
“When it comes to waterne-barne hepatitis, any person who has hepatitis a is immune for life, but hepatitis e can happen multiple times,” Says dr setya. Hepatitis e infection in a pregnant woman can lead to abortion and increment the risk of materialality, he adds.
So, who should take the hepatitis a vaccine? Doctors recommend it for children, students living in hostels, people who eat outn or those who are immunococomppromised. Other may also take it to Reduce the risk of an infection, but it is not necessary for everyone.
(With inputs by rinku ghosh)