measures to prevent dangerous infection
Hepatitis A outbreak in the city of Santa Eularia de Ibiza, where a total of 16 people will be diagnosed at the moment. This was confirmed by the Balearic Islands Department of Health.
Ten of the cases are young people, while the remaining six children are studying at a pre-primary school in the Santa Eularia area or in their first years of primary education in schools in the municipality. All infected adults will have some form of relationship with infected minors.
The Spanish Association for the Study of the Liver (AEEH) notes some necessary measures to prevent infection for this virus.
And how he points Dr. Manuel RomeroPresident of the Spanish Association for the Study of the Liver (AEEH).
- “Virus Hepatitis A is an RNA virus transmitted by the fecal-oral route. than in endemic areas where it is widespread and the population is not vaccinated.”
Very few people receive the hepatitis A vaccine. / Freepik.
What is hepatitis A and what are its symptoms?
Hepatitis A is infectious disease that affects liver and it is transmitted predominantly by the fecal-oral route, i.e. by consuming contaminated food or water or by direct contact with anyone infected.
If an infection occurs The patient begins to experience symptoms 2 to 6 weeks after exposure to the virus.
The main signs of infection are:
- Nausea.
- Vomit.
- General malaise.
- Dark urine.
- Pale stool.
- And, what is most characteristic, jaundice, what is he like yellowish color skin, mucous membranes and eyes.
Although these are the most common symptoms, liver experts explain that: In some cases, hepatitis A is asymptomatic, and in others it can cause fulminant liver failure, although this is very rare.
In fact, this type of hepatitis usually goes away with time. This does not usually lead to chronic disease.
Jaundice is the most characteristic symptom of hepatitis. /AdobeStock
Regarding the complications this can cause for the patient, AEEH specialists note the following:
- “Acute liver failure caused by HCV is rare but is a serious problem.The incidence of the disease varies depending on the age and condition of the patient’s liver and increases significantly in adults, especially in those over 50 years of age or with pre-existing liver disease.
Measures to prevent hepatitis A
The first thing you need to know is that Spain has a vaccine against the hepatitis A virus.
The problem is that most of society has not received this vaccine unless they have visited certain countries where the virus is endemic and have followed a vaccination schedule.
Hepatitis detection device / . / LAURA GUERRERO
And in our country, vaccination against hepatitis A is recommended only for certain risk groups, such as:
- For those patients who suffer from chronic liver diseases and chronic alcoholism.
- People transplanted or waiting for a transplant.
- People infected with HIV and at risk of contracting hepatitis A virus (people who inject drugs, people with risky sexual behavior, prostitutes, men who have sex with men)
- All those who travel to areas with high endemicity of hepatitis A.