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Men's Health Tip of the Day

How Can You Get Hepatitis A (HAV)?

Hepatitis A is usually transmitted through infected food, infected water and close person-to-person contact. The disease is widespread, and can be found in both day care centers (think of all those diapers) and prisons (i.e., next time you visit one, think "hand-washing").

You can get HAV by eating raw seafood (i.e., clams, oysters or mussels) that previously inhabited polluted waters. Similarly, other food (i.e., uncooked fruits and vegetables), water and milk products that have not been properly cleansed (i.e., cooked, purified or pasteurized) can also be a source of transmission. HAV has been known to spread from infected food handlers to restaurant patrons. Your best bet? Make a point of eating at restaurants -- whether "dives" or Michelin Four-Star joints -- that abide by local health department codes.

The Facts About Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A (also referred to as HAV) is a highly contagious form of viral hepatitis that only develops in humans. HAV accounts for 25 percent of all reported cases of hepatitis in the United States. About 200,000 new cases are reported every year, with nearly 100 people dying from HAV annually.

Essentially, HAV gets in the way of your liver's ability to filter impurities from your body. This inability to effectively "clean out" prevents the body from functioning in top form, and eventually becomes debilitating. HAV often leads to jaundice, a yellowing of the whites of eyes and, in Caucasians, a yellowing of the skin.

Once a body has been infected, the virus incubates for a period of 15 to 40 days. An infected man is most contagious during the two- to six- week period before the symptoms are visible and for the eight days after the onset of jaundice. The bottom line? As with many serious conditions, you have the ability to unknowingly infect others even before you begin to feel ill.

Tomorrow: How can you catch it?

Hepatitis A And Water Safety

For surfer or water-bound men, spending time in ocean water immediately after a significant storm may result in exposure to Hepatitis A. Why? Frequently after a large rainfall, urban sewage treatment facilities are unable to process the amount of new storm water. Many times this results in the "dumping" of untreated water (i.e., with human fecal matter) into local ocean water. A surfer's best bet? Despite the great waves, keep out of the water for 24-48 hours after a storm to allow local sewage treatment plants to "catch up" and the ocean water to dilute any dumping.

Symptoms And Diagnosis Of Hepatitis A

A great method of protecting yourself from Hepatitis A (HAV) is to become familiar with the symptoms associated with this condition. Among these are:

- tenderness in the right upper part of your abdomen - jaundice - fever - loss of appetite - stomach aches - dark urine - clay-colored stool - flu-like symptoms

Diagnosis is confirmed by testing the blood for the HAV virus antibody.

Treatments For Hepatitis (HAV)

Traditional methods of treating advanced cases of HAV can be severe. Twenty-two percent of infected men treated for HAV are hospitalized. Most treatment courses usually include three weeks to six months of bed rest. Talk about a telecommuting opportunity!

Exposure to HAV is often treated with two doses of the vaccine Havrix, given six months apart. This treatment will protect you for a period of three years.

Alternative Methods Of Treating Hepatitis A (HAV)

In our last tip, we mentioned hospitalization and the vaccine Havrix as treatment for HAV. The following are also options:

Nutritional Therapy. Doctors prescribe drinking about a gallon of fruit juices, water and other liquids per day. To combat the loss of appetite, small, high-calorie, high-protein meals and nutritional supplements are recommended.

Natural Remedies. Although not necessarily recommended by medical practitioners, natural remedies have been known to effectively treat men who contract HAV. While many people swear by these remedies, some western medical doctors tend to swear at them. It is a good idea to check with your physician before using any of these:

- drink the juice of half of one lemon in eight ounces of water every morning.

- take three glasses of water with two teaspoonfuls apple cider vinegar and two teaspoonfuls raw honey per day.

Prevention Of Hepatitis A (HAV)

Luckily, there are several ways to arm yourself against HAV infection. Most are pretty simple:

Scrub, scrub, scrub. Before and after using the restroom and before every meal, wash your hands with soap and hot water for at least fifteen seconds.

Wash, peel, cook. Wash fresh fruits and vegetables in clean water or peel them, before eating. Heat kills HAV, so whenever in doubt, cook foods at a temperature of 185 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

Clean, clean, clean. Dirty utensils, plates and cutting boards often spread the disease. Sure, dirty dishes may be your way of life, but they can also be your ticket to a long vacation. Think soap; think chlorine. Chlorine bleach kills HAV. A solution of two teaspoons chlorine bleach to one-quart tap water will render HAV inactive. If you have a dishwasher, stack the dishes and turn it on. All modern dishwashers heat their wash water to at least 185 degrees.

Play, but play smart. Always practice safe sex, particularly when traveling.

Hepatitis A Prevention On The Road

Before traveling to countries known for their unsanitary living conditions, doctors recommend injections of gamma globulin, antibodies derived from the human blood, to "vaccinate" you against HAV. Remember, even the best hotels, including international chains, and the finest restaurants often get their food from local sources. Frequently travelers who require medical attention are exposed to previously-used needles. As an added measure of protection, consider traveling to developing nations with your own clean needle and syringe. Note: When traveling to some countries, this may require a doctor's prescription.



-- Anonymous, December 02, 2001


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