Need information about Hepatitis A?

[Pam C]

i had hepatitis a wen i was 6 yrs old it will stay in my blood system for the rest of my life. i need to kno if i pass it to my kids if they would get as sick as i did or worse die. should i even have unprotected sex with my partner

[dr cjna]

Hepatitis virus (HAV) is a non-enveloped ssRNA virus with a single serovar.Symptoms of hepatitis A are often minor, and may be mistaken for a flu. Some sufferers, especially children, may exhibit no symptoms at all. Symptoms typically appear 2 to 6 weeks after start of infection.Symptoms may include:Fatigue Fever Abdominal pain Nausea Diarrhea Appetite loss Jaundice, a yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes. There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A. Sufferers are advised to rest, avoid fatty foods and alcohol (these may be poorly tolerated for some additional months during the recovery phase and cause minor relapses), eat a well-balanced diet, and stay hydrated. Approximately 15% of people diagnosed with hepatitis A may experience one or more symptomatic relapse(s) for nine months to a year after contracting this disease.Young children who catch hepatitis A often have a milder form of the disease, usually lasting from 1-3 weeks, whereas adults tend to experience a much more severe form of the disease. They are often confined to bed and minimal activity for about 4 weeks and have to stop their work for one to three months or longer. Many adults take up to 6-12 months and occasionally longer to recover entirely. Symptoms that may be experienced after the first month or two are low immunity: It is much easier to catch minor infections and for these infections to linger longer than they normally would. Many people experience a slow but sure improvement, over this later period. They are generally able to function fairly normally, still needing more sleep and reduced athletic activity. It is common for recovering patients to experience occasional "off" days, during which they need to rest more. Hepatitis A can be sexually transmitted, especially during oral-anal contact, but not after the patient has recovered.PreventionHepatitis A can be prevented by good hygiene and sanitation. Vaccination is also available, and is recommended in areas where the prevalence of hepatitis A is high. To prevent it, use your own towels and toothbrushes, eating utensils, and other personal products. Always wash your hands after and before eating and more importantly after using the restroom.No. Hepatitis A is not sex / blood transmitted disease (except for oral-anal sex). No, you dont have to use condoms. No, it will not pass to your kids.

[Snout]

No, the hepatitis A virus does not stay in your blood, unlike hepatitis B which can and hepatitis C which usually does. They are three quite different viruses, although they all affect the liver. If you did a blood test now (years later) they would find ANTIBODIES against hepatitis A, but no evidence of the actual virus itself.Hep A is usually all gone within a few months of getting the infection, although you can feel pretty sick while you've got it. Once you've had hepatitis A your body gets rid of the virus and you can't infect anyone else. You also can't get it a second time.Relax.And you CAN give blood after having had hep A. In fact the blood bank can turn your blood into a product that can stop other people getting hep A.