What is Hepatitis A?

• It is caused by virus transmitted primarily through fecal contamination of water, food and milk. The virus is destroyed by heat.
• It makes your liver swell and stops it from functioning well resulting in jaundice.
• It is a highly contagious disease.
• It usually does not cause death.
• It does not cause chronic (long term) infection.

Recovering from the disease produces lifelong immunity.

Malaysia reported 94 cases of Hepatitis A in 2007 (Incidence rate of 39/100 000 population)

What foods are commonly implicated?

Contaminated food and water such as:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Raw shellfish harvested from sewage-contaminated water cockles, etok, clams and oyster)
• Ice

What are the signs and symptoms?

• Yellow discoloration of eyes
• Dark urine
• Nausea
• Fever
• Tiredness
• Loss of appetite
• Stomach ache
• Vomiting
• Generalised itching
• Pale and clay coloured stool

Not everyone infected shows all the symptoms. Symptoms usually develop over period of several days.

How does it spread?

• Through close contact with someone else who has the infection
• Through contaminated food and drink
  • Eating fruits, vegetable or other food that may have become contaminated during handling
  • Eating raw shellfish harvested from sewage contaminated water
  • Drinking /swallowing contaminated water or ice

  Treatments

  • Most people who have Hepatitis A get well on their own after few weeks
  • Bed rest for several days and weeks and abstain alcohol
  • No special medicine or antibiotics to treat the disease

  How to prevent Hepatitis A?

  • Get a vaccinated against Hepatitis A
  • Practice good hygiene:
    • Wash hands properly with soap and water after visiting toilet , changing diapers and before preparing food
    • Wear gloves if you have to touch other peoples stools, blood or other bodily fluids
    • Maintain cleanliness and proper sanitation especially after flood or natural disaster.
  • Avoid risky food:
    • raw vegetables/ulam and fruits,
    • ice unless the ice is made from boiled or bottled water
    • undercooked or raw fish or shellfish
    • Only eat foods that have been thoroughly cooked and are still hot
    • Use only clean water
    • Drink only boiled or bottled water
    • Avoid swimming in dirty/contaminated river
• Through contaminated food and drink
  • Eating fruits, vegetable or other food that may have become contaminated during handling
  • Eating raw shellfish harvested from sewage contaminated water
  • Drinking /swallowing contaminated water or ice

  What should I do if I suspected to have typhoid fever?

  See you doctor immediately.