![]() ![]() Not to mention, only 25 percent of adults are vaccinated against the disease. But what can make HBV tricky to catch is that many people don’t have symptoms. If left untreated, HBV can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer, each of which can be potentially fatal. An infected mother will give it to her baby, for instance. HBV is only transmitted through blood or other body fluids. You can’t get this strain of hepatitis by eating a bad salad. “No vaccine is 100 percent, but it’s as close as you can get.” ![]() Douglas Dieterich, professor of liver disease at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York and a member of the American Liver Foundation’s National Medical Advisory Committee. “Personally, I think it should be part of a general health exam,” said Dr. The vaccine’s recommended for all children one year or older, if you’re traveling to a country where HAV is common (such as Africa, Asia, and South or Central America) or you have a condition that puts you at high risk of infection. The good news: While HAV often passes on its own within a few months, and most people make a full recovery, it can be prevented with a simple vaccine shot. “Always wash your hands with soap and water after you go to the bathroom, or changing a diaper,” Bedford said. Still, it’s important to avoid coming into contact with water that’s contaminated with fecal matter. Rudolph Bedford, a gastroenterologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, who’s had several patients ask. What you need to know: “You can’t get HAV from a toilet seat,” said Dr. HAV symptoms include stomach upset, diarrhea, fever, and jaundice (yellowed skin and eyes) that can last several months. “HAV is foodborne so it can affect anyone.” Nancy Reau, a hepatitis expert at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and a member of the American Liver Foundation’s National Medical Advisory Committee. “Most people never think about hepatitis A, but outbreaks show how vulnerable we are, even for people who have no risk factors, unless you consider going to a 4 th of July picnic risky,” said Dr. (It can also be spread through some types of sex.) The virus is spread through food or water that contains microscopic amounts of stool from someone who’s infected. These are just a few ways you can contract hepatitis A (HAV). A sick food handler who didn’t wash their hands before preparing your meal. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |