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Written By: Agencies | Updated : September 16, 2016 7:15 PM IST
It is an immediate, intrinsic response of the hepatitis A virus (HAV)-infected cell that results in liver inflammation, researchers at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have discovered. HAV does not cause chronic liver disease like hepatitis B and C viruses. But in rare cases, it can cause acute liver failure, which is often fatal. The new findings, published in the journal Science, could lead to new response to control the infection as hepatitis researchers earlier thought that immune cells sent by the body to attack virus-infected cells in the liver cause the acute liver injury. The virus evokes a response in the infected cell that activates a pre-programmed cell death pathway, said one of the study authors Stanley Lemon, Professor of Medicine. In effect, the cell commits suicide, sacrificing itself along with the virus in an effort to save the host. This results in inflammation within the liver that we recognise as hepatitis, Lemon explained.
Hepatitis A virus is a vaccine preventable form of infectious hepatitis. HAV is found worldwide and is transmitted through ingestion of food and water that is contaminated with the feces of an infected person. Symptoms of hepatitis A include nausea, stomach pain, fever, sore throat, headache and diarrhea. People infected with HAV may not experience any symptoms, but shed the virus for two to four weeks. During this period, an infected person can pass the virus to others. The disease can be prevented by good hygiene like washing hands after using the restroom and before eating meals, improved sanitation and sewage disposal, food safety, properly cooking food and immunization. Chlorination of water can prevent waterborne epidemics. An infection with hepatitis A provides lifelong immunity to the disease. If not already infected, hepatitis A vaccine can give protection against the virus. It is an optional vaccination in India. Two shots are given at least six months apart. The first dose is given when a child is above 12 months of age. Also Read: 13 causes of hepatitis you didn't know about
Source: IANS
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