Acute hepatitis A

Acute viral hepatitis type A, referred to as hepatitis A, is an acute infectious disease caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV) invading the human body through the digestive tract. It is classified as a Category B infectious disease. The prognosis is good, and it can be completely cured. Acute viral hepatitis currently adopts a comprehensive treatment approach combining traditional Chinese and Western medicine, with appropriate drug therapy given according to different conditions. During the course, patients should pay attention to adequate rest and reasonable nutrition, while avoiding alcohol consumption, hepatotoxic drugs, and other factors unfavorable to the liver. In the early stage of the disease, bed rest is mandatory until symptoms are significantly alleviated, jaundice subsides, and liver function markedly improves. Then physical activity can be gradually increased, to the extent that it does not cause fatigue or fluctuations in liver function. After symptoms disappear and liver function returns to normal, patients may gradually resume work following 1-3 months of rest and observation. However, regular follow-up examinations should still be continued for 1-2 years. The source of infection for acute hepatitis A includes patients in the acute phase, subclinical infected individuals, and latent infected individuals. The incubation period is 15-45 days. The peak of virus excretion occurs at the end of the incubation period and a few days before the appearance of jaundice, during which patients are the most dangerous source of infection. The isolation period for acute hepatitis A is 3 weeks from the onset of the disease, and close contacts should undergo medical observation for 4-6 weeks.