They could happen anywhere. A medical error, or more likely, at your favorite restaurant. Pretty regularly, they make headlines: someone with Hepatitis A heads into work and exposes hundreds of people. The good news is that unlike Hepatitis C, Hepatitis A is curable, and if you’ve been vaccinated in the past, you’ve got little to worry about. But vaccines can sometimes not take or wear off, or you may not have gotten one, and now there’s a local outbreak. So what do you need to know?
Hepatitis A is one of many diseases that spreads through the fecal-oral route. That means it comes down to poor handwashing, and potentially then handling food (but touching communal surfaces could be enough in a busy/crowded environment). While you can’t control other people’s handwashing, frequent washing of your own hands helps, especially before eating.
It’s not food poisoning, although you might initially suspect it is. A small fever, stomach pain, nausea, and a lack of appetite are common Hepatitis A symptoms. Some people even get vomiting and diarrhea. But it’s more than stomach upset, it’s a liver infection, and more severe symptoms can include dark urine (a bad sign), pain in the joints and muscles, and yellow skin or eyes.
While it’s recommended a doctor monitor any hepatitis infection, like most viruses, treatment comes down to you. Rest, water, and body support (like taking care of your liver by avoiding alcohol and eating healthy, antioxidant rich foods) as well as immune support like colloidal silver are key.
If there’s an outbreak in your area, make sure you’re supporting your health with best practices (like sleep and healthy eating) as well as colloidal silver.
