Know what type of hepatitis mainly affects children, their symptoms and how it can be prevented.
Hepatitis in children is an inflammation of the liver primarily caused by a virus, but also by other factors such as bacteria, drugs and toxic agents. When the liver is affected or injured as a result of inflammation or infection, it cannot perform all its functions correctly, and that is when complications and symptoms occur.
The most frequent hepatitis in children is hepatitis A, followed by B, although there are also viruses of type C, D and E. Its manifestations are usually very similar at the beginning, but the evolution varies according to the virus that causes the disease.
Hepatitis A is carried in the stool and is easily passed from person to person, but it can also be acquired through contaminated food or water. In this sense, a child could get hepatitis if he touches something contaminated with the feces of someone who has the virus and then puts his hand to his mouth.
Sometimes its transmission is due to outbreaks in kindergartens or other places where children play together. Because most infected children show no signs of the disease, vaccination is the best way to prevent it.
Symptoms of Hepatitis A are generally associated with the severity of the infection, otherwise, it may become asymptomatic in some cases. Therefore, if your little one is over 6 years old and you think he may have been exposed to the virus, it is important to be aware of the following symptoms :
Fever and tiredness
Lack of appetite
Abdominal pain and vomiting
Jaundice (yellow eyes and skin)
Dark-colored urine.
If you detect these symptoms, it is essential that you go to your doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment. As part of preventive measures, it is also recommended to be very hygienic with food, always wash your hands and avoid exposing yourself to whoever carries the virus.
It is worth mentioning that the other types of hepatitis can also affect children, however, their routes of contagion are more due to being in contact with blood and other bodily fluids, so attention should always be paid to their care. In addition, it is of great importance to go to a specialist in good time to prevent complications with your liver and prevent it from becoming a chronic disease. Take care of them!