Caring for Someone Ill
Healthcare workers are more likely to contract Hepatitis A because they often work with infected patients, resulting in close personal contact. This can lead them to come into contact with bodily fluids that contain the Hepatitis A virus and then spread it further through these same channels. For instance, being infected by hand wipes used after assisting during surgery or delivering medication might transmit Hepatitis A via touch alone. In addition, touching one’s face without washing hands afterward could result in getting infected with the hepatitis virus.
The incubation period for Hepatitis A ranges from 15 to 45 days, with most people developing symptoms within 30 days of exposure to the virus. The first clinical manifestations are usually nonspecific flu-like symptoms, such as fever, malaise, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and dark urine.
There is no specific treatment for Hepatitis A, but the virus usually goes away within a few weeks. In some cases, however, the virus can lead to severe liver damage and even death. Therefore, individuals who think they might have been exposed to the virus must see a doctor immediately so they can be monitored for signs and symptoms of the disease.
