Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by a virus spread through contaminated food and water. Most children who catch it in India have mild or silent illness; adults tend to have a more pronounced illness with jaundice. Almost everyone recovers fully without any long-term liver damage.

Symptoms

• Fatigue, poor appetite, nausea.
• Low-grade fever, headache, body aches.
• Right-upper abdominal discomfort.
• Yellow eyes and skin (jaundice), dark urine, pale stools — often appearing 1-2 weeks after the other symptoms.
• Itching.

India-specific shift

As clean water and better sanitation spread in urban India, fewer children are exposed to Hepatitis A in the first few years of life. This means more older children and young adults are reaching vaccination-window age without immunity — and getting a more serious illness if exposed. Vaccination in urban settings is now worth considering for children.

Red flags — hospital

• Severe vomiting; unable to keep fluids down.
• Confusion, drowsiness.
• Bleeding gums or bruising.
• Deepening jaundice with fever.
• Pregnancy with significant illness (while Hepatitis A in pregnancy is usually mild, combined infections and dehydration can complicate — be cautious).
• These suggest acute liver failure — rare but serious.

Treatment

• Rest and hydration. No specific antiviral is needed for most.
• Light, plain food; avoid alcohol and unnecessary drugs.
• Avoid paracetamol in high doses and unregulated herbal/ayurvedic "liver cures" — some can worsen liver injury.
• Most people feel significantly better in 2-4 weeks; full recovery in 1-3 months.
• Isolate: wash hands, use separate utensils/towels for the sick person while still passing virus (usually 1-2 weeks after symptoms start).

Prevention

• Safe water and food — boiled/filtered water, hot freshly cooked food, washed fruits.
• Hand-washing with soap.
• Hepatitis A vaccine — effective, long-lasting; recommended in urban Indian children and at-risk adults (travellers to poor-sanitation areas, chronic liver disease, food-handlers, some healthcare workers).
• Post-exposure vaccine within 2 weeks of known contact protects many.