Can food or drink cause hepatitis in a person?

 Can food or drink cause hepatitis in a person? Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver and is brought on by a number of viruses. Hepatitis A, B, and C are a few of these. Hepatitis A can be acquired through the consumption of infected food and water.

Can food or drink cause hepatitis in a person?

The three most prevalent types of viral hepatitis in the US are A, B, and C. Hepatitis B and C can be acquired by coming into touch with bodily fluids like blood that are infected.

Hepatitis A can, however, be acquired from consuming infected food.

This article examines the connection between hepatitis and a person's diet and beverage intake. It also goes over prevention methods and describes what someone should do if they think they might have hepatitis.

The only type of viral hepatitis that can spread through contaminated food or water is hepatitis A, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source. The main way the virus spreads is when an unvaccinated individual consumes tainted food and drink.

Hepatitis B and C cannot be acquired by tainted food and water.

Hepatitis B transmission can take place through:

sexual contact with a person who has hepatitis B, sharing personal care products like razors and toothbrushes, or coming into touch with semen, blood, or other bodily fluids while using tools like needles or syringes that have blood on them.

Blood is how hepatitis C is transmitted. Hepatitis C can spread from one person to another through the sharing of needles, tainted blood transfusions, and the use of unkempt medical tools like needles or other devices.

Transmission of hepatitis B and C can also happen after childbirth and in medical settings with inadequate infection control.

How does eating contaminated food cause hepatitis in people?

A person can contract hepatitis A if they consume food or drink water that has been tainted with the virus' excrement, according to the Washington State Department of Health.

So, if a person touches food without washing their hands after using the restroom, the infection could spread from that person.

Hepatitis A might also be present in the meal itself. People may develop hepatitis A, for instance, if they consume oysters that have been picked by farmers from sewage-contaminated water.

Hepatitis A instances are not frequent in the United States, according to a trusted source from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, when they do, there is an outbreak that lasts for a while and many individuals get sick.

What kinds of food can spread the hepatitis virus?

Although almost any food or beverage can induce hepatitis A infection, the following are some typicalTrusted Source reasons for outbreaks in the United States:

salads water shellfish raw vegetables raw fruit or berries

signs that a person has consumed food-borne hepatitis

Hepatitis A infection symptoms may not appear for 14–28 daysTrusted Source. Although the symptoms rarely lead to death, they can be moderate or severe. Reliable Source

Hepatitis A signs and symptoms include:

malaise, diarrhoea, and black urine

abdominal discomfort, appetite loss, and pale stools

nausea

It might take anything from a few weeks to many months to develop jaundice, which is the yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes.

All of the aforementioned symptoms, which are more prevalent in adults than in children, may not be experienced by a person. The likelihood of being asymptomatic is higher in children under the age of 6 years.

What to do if you think you may have gotten hepatitis from food

If a person believes they have taken tainted food or drink, they should consult a doctor. The doctor can do an infection test.

Within two weeks of the exposure, a medical expert may give postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) to people who are not immune. PEP includes:

the hepatitis A vaccine for people aged 1 to 40, and hepatitis-specific immunoglobin for people who are not in the aforementioned age range.

If a person has had the immunisation or has had hepatitis A in the past, PEP is not necessary.

All healthcare establishments are required, according to the CDCTrusted Source, to report confirmed hepatitis A infections to local, state, and federal authorities for tracking. These facilities will not provide any personal health information about the patients, simply the number of reported cases.

Treatment

Hepatitis A has no specific treatment. In order to replenish the fluids lost due to diarrhoea and vomiting, people should drink a lot of liquids.

Taking acetaminophen, paracetamol, or other drugs that lessen vomiting should be avoided by people.

Prevention

Individuals can lower the danger.

Known for transmitting hepatitis A, by:

Before handling raw foods, people should wash their hands for 20 seconds with warm soap and water.

after changing diapers, cleansing hands

after using the restroom, washing their hands

Additionally, people should clean their kitchen by doing the following:

Clean the shelves and walls of the refrigerator as well as the cutting boards, counters, and kitchenware.

Use a solution of 1 tablespoon chlorine bleach to 1 gallon of hot water to sanitise the items listed above.

Utilize a fresh cloth or paper towel to dry these places.

vaccination for hepatitis A

Hepatitis A vaccinations are also available.

All children between 12-23 months should receive vaccinations, according to the CDC Trusted Source. The group also suggests that older kids who did not receive the immunisation when they were younger should do so as soon as feasible.

People who go abroad should also obtain the immunisation.

To find out if they need a vaccination, a person should consult a doctor.

In conclusion, drinking polluted water or eating infected food can cause hepatitis A. This can happen if a person carrying the virus prepares or handles food and beverages after failing to properly wash their hands after using the restroom.

People should be careful to fully wash their hands and clean their kitchens to help stop the spread of hepatitis A.

Additionally, individuals should consult a physician to determine whether they need the hepatitis A vaccine.

Any medical advice provided on this website is not meant to replace professional medical advice, thus you should not act before speaking with a healthcare provider.

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