Personal Injury Law

Hepatitis A Drugs

By Marler Clark LLP

Hepatitis A is a chronic infection of the liver that is caused by the Hepatitis A virus, also known as HAV. This virus is commonly transmitted through either the oral or the fecal route, by the contamination of food or drinking resources. The symptoms of hepatitis A may include fever, abdominal pain, excessive weight loss, diarrhea, depression, nausea, as well as jaundice.

Although there are no known drugs for the treatment of Hepatitis A, there are a number of preventive Hepatitis A drug treatments as well as vaccines that can be used as a precautionary method especially in developing countries where the incidence of Hepatitis A is quite high.

Some of the vaccines as well as the drug treatments for Hepatitis A include:

1. HAVRIX is a good drug treatment for Hepatitis A and is a vaccine that is used to help prevent Hepatitis A in adults. This vaccine works by exposing the body to a small and harmless amount of the virus to enhance the immunity of the body against Hepatitis A by increasing the production of antibodies against it. Vaccination with HAVRIX is essential for all adults travelling to areas or countries where the pathogenicity of the virus is high, including developing nations. It is also essential to be vaccinated by HAVRIX if the person is suffering from a liver disease, uses IV drugs, or receives any blood transfusion where the transmission of the virus is a threat. Working with laboratory animals may also put a person at risk of being exposed to the Hepatitis A virus.

2. VAQTA is also another vaccine used to treat Hepatitis A, which has the same mechanism as HAVRIX. This drug treatment of Hepatitis A can be administered to anyone who is older than 12 months and who is at a risk of infection by the virus. The vaccine may be injected in the muscles of the shoulder by a healthcare professional. A series of two injections can be administered over the course of six to 18 months. The dosage depends on the age of the person.

3. Another vaccine used for the treatment of Hepatitis A is TWINRIX, which is supplied as a sterile suspension that is administered intramuscularly. The vaccine is a combination of the Hepatitis A inactivated as well as Hepatitis B Recombinant vaccine and unlike VAQTA and HAVRIX, it can treat both Hepatitis A as well as B.

4. Dosages of Immune Globin or IG can also be given to people at risk of this disease. This vaccine is usually given intramuscularly into either the deltoid or gluteal muscles to children above the age of 12 months.

5. Other drug treatments for Hepatitis A that are highly effective are supportive treatments used to cure the accessory symptoms of the disease such as jaundice, depression, abdominal pains, etc.

Full post as published by Hepatitis Blog on March 04, 2011 (boomark / email).