Hepatitis A is a virus that affects the liver. Hepatitis A enters a patient's body typically through the ingestion of contaminated food or water, or through close contact with an infected person. The virus enters the patient's blood stream and damages the liver. The liver then becomes inflamed and decreases in function. Most cases of hepatitis A are mild and only require supportive treatments.
Rest
A patient who has recently contracted hepatitis A may feel fatigued and have minimal energy in completing activities of daily living. This occurs because the body is using large amounts of energy to fight the infection. Therefore, it is best for a patient to rest so that the body's energy can be focused on fighting the hepatitis A virus. A patient should take several days off from work or school to fully recover from this infection.
Eat Tolerable Foods
A patient with hepatitis A should eat the right foods so that his body can have enough energy to fight the hepatitis A infection. Choosing the proper food is important, as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain and diarrhea are common symptoms associated with a hepatitis A infection. MayoClinic.com states that a patient should eat small snacks throughout the day rather than eating three large meals. Foods such as soup, broth, breads and yogurts may be the easiest types of foods for a patient to consume. As the patient's health improves, he should advance to a more complicated diet.
Avoid Alcohol and Certain Medications
Because the liver is inflamed and its function is altered, a patient should avoid intoxicating substances, such as alcohol. Furthermore, medications may need to be adjusted as a patient is recovering from hepatitis A. Medications may need to be adjusted because medications are metabolized in the liver. Because the liver is impaired, a patient may experience higher levels of medication circulating through the blood stream. This can lead to dangerously high levels of medications which can cause serious complications. Therefore, a patient should consult his physician about his medication regimen as he is recovering from the infection.
Member Comments