Hepatitis A Treatment

 
No specific medicine is currently available that will cure a hepatitis A infection. Hepatitis A treatment consists mainly of relieving symptoms, not curing the infection itself.

Medical treatment for hepatitis A You may need intravenous fluids to guard against dehydration.

Your doctor may prescribe medications to relieve vomiting and nausea.

Hepatitis A treatment at home If you are experiencing hepatitis A symptoms at home, you should

• Rest at home. Remember, hepatitis A is contagious, so stay away from others as much as possible.
• Drink lots of clear fluids. Dehydration is a danger with hepatitis A.
• Avoid anything, including medicines, that may harm the liver. This includes Tylenol and any other preparations that include acetaminophen.
• Don't drink alcohol.
• Avoid exertion or vigorous exercise as long as you have symptoms.

If symptoms get worse or new symptoms appear, call your doctor.

Be very careful about personal hygiene and sanitation. Keep your environment clean to avoid transmitting the hepatitis A virus to others. If you have been exposed to someone who is infected with HAV, there is a treatment that may prevent you from becoming infected. It is called immune globulin.

Hepatitis A vaccine The hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for the following persons.

• All children at age 1 year (that is, between 12-23 months) and older.
• Anyone who travels to an area where there is an increased rate of hepatitis A.
• Anyone who uses injection and non-injection drugs.
• Anyone with a clotting disorder of the blood (for example, hemophilia).
• Anyone who has chronic liver disease.
• Persons who work in a laboratory where the hepatitis A virus is present.