Hepatitis A
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What is Hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Hep A include fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, low-grade fever, dark urine, itching, weight loss, or yellow skin and eyes.
Causes
Hep A occurs when one of these things occur, a person ingests contaminated fecal matter, eating food handled by someone with the virus who doesn't thoroughly wash his or her hands after using the toilet, drinking contaminated water, eating raw shellfish from water polluted with sewage, being in close contact with a person who's infected — even if that person has no signs or symptoms, having sex with someone who has the virus.
Immune Cells Involved
T-Cells are involved with immunity.
Replication
Hep A replicates through the lytic cycle.
Steps of the Lytic Cycle
First the virus attaches, then the viral DNA circularizes, the new viral DNA and proteins are synthesized, finally the cell lyses (bursts) releasing viruses.
Treatment
Hep A can be treated by rest, hydration, avoiding alcohol, avoiding fatty foods. The liver will clear up virus on its own.
Prevention
One way to prevent Hep A is to get a shot, if you are traveling to areas where there is a Hep A outbreak peel all fruits and veggies before eating, avoid raw or under cooked meat and fish, drink bottled water and use it when brushing your teeth, don't drink beverages that aren't yours or have been not boiled, and practice good hygiene.