Hepatitis A - Treatment Overview

Treatment Overview

Hepatitis A goes away on its own in almost all cases. No medications are used to treat the illness. Home treatment will usually help relieve your symptoms and help you prevent the spread of hepatitis A virus (HAV).

Slow down

Reduce your activity level to match your energy level. Do not stay in bed, because that may slow your recovery. Don't go to work or school unless your workload can be decreased to match your energy level. Avoid strenuous exercise, until you are fully recovered. As you start to feel better, go back to your regular activities gradually. If you try to meet your regular pace too soon, you may get sick again.

Eat right

Even though food may not appeal to you, it is important for you to get adequate nutrition. Try eating small, frequent meals instead of three large meals. For most people, nausea and loss of appetite don't set in until later in the day. Try eating more in the morning and less later in the day.

Doctors used to recommend a high-calorie, protein-rich diet to people who have hepatitis. This is no longer believed to be of any benefit, and such foods can be hard to eat when you feel nauseated. Try to maintain a balanced diet while eating foods that appeal to you.

Avoid dehydration

It is very important to keep your body well-hydrated when you have hepatitis A, especially if you have been vomiting. Drink plenty of water. If you can tolerate them, fruit juices and broth are other good choices because they provide additional calories. Many of the sports drinks available in grocery stores (such as Gatorade) can help replace essential electrolytes (salts) that are lost through vomiting.

Avoid alcohol and drugs

Hepatitis impairs your liver's ability to break down certain medicines and alcohol. If you take drugs (legal or illegal) or drink alcohol when you have hepatitis, their effects may be more powerful and may last longer. In addition, alcohol and some medications can make liver damage worse.

Make sure your health professional knows all the medications you are taking, including herbal products. Do not take any new medications or stop taking existing prescription medications without your doctor's approval. Talk to your health professional about when it is safe to drink alcohol in moderation.

Try to control itching

People with hepatitis sometimes develop itchy skin. You can use nonprescription medications, such as Benadryl or Chlor-Trimeton, to control the itching. Be sure to follow the instructions for use that are provided with the product, and stop using the product if you have any side effects. Tell your health professional before you start any new medicine.

Symptoms of hepatitis A usually begin to go away on their own in about 2 weeks. You can still spread the infection to others as long as you have symptoms, because your stools carry the virus.

If you have been around someone who you know has hepatitis A, getting an injection of immune globulin (IG) within 2 weeks of exposure may prevent you from getting hepatitis A.