Mexican actress, Monserrat Olivier was hospitalized recently due to a complication with salmonella and hepatitis. Hepatitis A is a foodborne disease that often happens in countries that have poor sanitation systems, which lead to the transmission of the disease.
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“I’m still at the hospital, I have double salmonella that affected my liver, and so I have a bit of hepatitis. I hate hospitals and I hope to leave soon,” said Olivier. We don’t know what exactly caused the salmonella, but typically the disease can appear 28 days after the initial infection and symptoms can start as early as 2 weeks of catching the virus.
Hepatitis A is the only common foodborne illness that is preventable by a vaccine and it is one of 5 hepatitis viruses that can infect the liver. In the U.S. it’s not as common as it is in other parts of the world, typically affecting anywhere from 30,000-50,000 people every year.
The disease is contagious and it travels in feces, can be spread from person to person, or be found in food or water. Contaminated food often happens when food preparers do not take necessary precautions when handling food, such as washing their hands after using the bathroom.
It’s tricky to diagnose because the symptoms of Hepatitis A can be confused with other minor aches, such as muscle aches, headache, loss of appetite, stomach pain, fever, weakness and fatigue. Plus only 70% of patients get jaundice (the yellowing of the skin and eyes), which is also associated with other types of Hepatitis.
Those that have the virus can suffer from liver problems, because the virus can kill a high number of liver cells, which can cause the liver to stop functioning. In fact 50% of patients with fulminant Hepatitis A will need an immediate liver transplant to avoid death.
Hepatitis is preventable, and there is a vaccine, but unfortunately many people are not vaccinated. Especially since the vaccine became recommended for all children just 10 years ago.