Question 1

What is Relapsing Hepatitis A?

Accepted Answer

Relapsing Hepatitis A is a rare phenomenon where patients experience a return of symptoms weeks to months after apparent recovery from their initial Hepatitis A virus infection. It is caused by a resurgence of the Hepatitis A virus (HAV) activity in the liver, affecting approximately 10-15% of Hepatitis A cases. The Hepatitis A IgM Antibody test is the most important test for diagnosis because it detects the specific antibodies that reappear or remain elevated during the relapse phase.

Question 2

What causes relapsing Hepatitis A?

Accepted Answer

Relapsing Hepatitis A is caused by a resurgence of the Hepatitis A virus (HAV) activity in the liver after an initial period of apparent recovery. The exact mechanism is not fully understood, but it appears the virus reactivates in the liver weeks to months after the first infection seemed to resolve. This reactivation triggers a return of inflammation and symptoms like fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, and elevated liver enzymes, even though patients felt completely well during the recovery period.

Question 3

What is the best test for relapsing Hepatitis A?

Accepted Answer

The Hepatitis A IgM Antibody test is the most important test for relapsing Hepatitis A because it detects IgM antibodies specific to the Hepatitis A virus that indicate acute or recent infection. When someone experiences a relapse, these IgM antibodies typically reappear or remain elevated, providing crucial evidence to confirm the diagnosis. Your healthcare provider will interpret these results alongside liver function tests (AST, ALT) and your clinical symptoms to differentiate relapsing Hepatitis A from other liver conditions and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Question 4

When should I get tested for relapsing Hepatitis A?

Accepted Answer

You should get tested if you previously had Hepatitis A, felt like you recovered completely, but now your symptoms have returned weeks or months later. Specific signs include fatigue returning after feeling energetic, nausea or loss of appetite coming back, abdominal pain or discomfort in the liver area, yellowing of skin or eyes reappearing, or dark urine and pale stools returning. Getting tested promptly when these symptoms resurface helps confirm the diagnosis and allows your healthcare provider to monitor your liver function closely.

Question 5

What are the symptoms of relapsing Hepatitis A?

Accepted Answer

The symptoms of relapsing Hepatitis A mirror those of the initial infection and include fatigue and weakness, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain especially in the upper right area where the liver is located, dark-colored urine, pale or clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes), and elevated liver enzymes. These symptoms appear after a period of feeling completely well, which distinguishes a relapse from a prolonged initial infection. The relapse phase typically occurs 30 to 90 days after the initial symptoms resolved.

Question 6

Who is at risk for relapsing Hepatitis A?

Accepted Answer

Anyone who has had Hepatitis A can potentially experience a relapse, though it occurs in only 10-15% of cases. There are no clear risk factors that predict who will develop a relapse versus who will have a straightforward recovery. The relapse can happen regardless of age, gender, or how severe the initial infection was. People who travel to areas with poor sanitation, consume contaminated food or water, or have close contact with infected individuals are at risk for the initial Hepatitis A infection, which is the prerequisite for experiencing a relapse.

Question 7

What happens if relapsing Hepatitis A is left untreated?

Accepted Answer

If relapsing Hepatitis A is left unmonitored, it can lead to prolonged liver inflammation and potentially more severe liver damage. While Hepatitis A generally does not cause chronic liver disease, the relapsing form extends the period of active infection and liver stress. Without proper medical monitoring, you risk complications like prolonged jaundice, severe fatigue that interferes with daily life, and in rare cases, acute liver failure. Most people do recover completely from relapsing Hepatitis A, but medical supervision ensures your liver function is monitored and any complications are caught early.

Question 8

Can relapsing Hepatitis A be diagnosed with a blood test?

Accepted Answer

Yes, relapsing Hepatitis A is diagnosed primarily through blood tests, specifically the Hepatitis A IgM Antibody test. This blood test detects IgM antibodies that indicate recent or active Hepatitis A virus infection. When symptoms return after apparent recovery, the presence of these antibodies helps confirm the relapse. Your healthcare provider will also order liver function tests to measure ALT and AST enzymes, which become elevated during liver inflammation. Together, these blood tests combined with your symptom history provide a definitive diagnosis of relapsing Hepatitis A.

Question 9

How is relapsing Hepatitis A treated?

Accepted Answer

Relapsing Hepatitis A is treated with supportive care focused on allowing your liver to heal naturally, as there is no specific antiviral medication for Hepatitis A. Treatment includes getting plenty of rest to help your body fight the infection, staying well-hydrated with water and clear fluids, eating small frequent meals to manage nausea, avoiding alcohol completely to prevent additional liver stress, and avoiding medications that can harm the liver unless approved by your doctor. Your healthcare provider will monitor your liver function through regular blood tests and may recommend hospitalization only if severe complications develop.

Question 10

How can I prevent relapsing Hepatitis A?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, there is no known way to prevent a relapse once you have had Hepatitis A, as the mechanism causing the virus to reactivate is not fully understood. However, you can prevent the initial Hepatitis A infection through vaccination, which is the most effective prevention method. The Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for travelers to endemic areas, people with chronic liver disease, and those at high risk of exposure. Practicing good hygiene like frequent handwashing, avoiding contaminated food and water, and ensuring proper food handling also reduce your risk of the initial infection.

Question 11

What can I do at home for relapsing Hepatitis A?

Accepted Answer

At home, focus on supporting your liver's natural healing process by getting adequate rest and sleep, eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins while avoiding fatty or fried foods that are harder to digest, drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated and help flush toxins, avoiding alcohol completely until your doctor confirms your liver has fully recovered, and taking only medications approved by your healthcare provider. Eating small frequent meals can help manage nausea, and ginger tea or crackers may ease digestive discomfort. Monitor your symptoms and contact your doctor if they worsen or new symptoms develop.

Question 12

How’s this work?

Accepted Answer

Getting your blood test with us is easy, private & backed by the power of science.Long story short:
            
                In the test options, use the filters or search box to narrow your choices and find the test you want.
                If you need a hand navigating through options, text our super friendly support team at 754-799-7833, and we'll provide tailored suggestions to help you find the ideal test.
                Once your order is placed, we’ll create your doctor’s lab order remotely, without any need for you to make a trip to a doctor in person or to talk to the doctor. Expect to receive your doctor’s lab order right in your inbox. It will also be in your patient portal if you need to find it later. We’ll also include instructions regarding fasting and other requirements for your test. Your patient portal will be auto-created hassle-free during checkout.
                If this is your first time ordering, you'll be prompted to create a password for instant login access to your patient portal. It's a quick way to conveniently access your orders and results whenever you want.
                When you’re ready, visit one of our 4,000 locations. Just bring your ID – no printing or faxing of your lab order is needed, as your order and details will already be in the lab system.
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Question 13

How do I know which test to get?

Accepted Answer

In the test options, find the test you want.
            If you’re not sure which test to get, we can lend a hand in finding the right option.
            Just text or call us at 754-799-7833, email us at support@privatemdlabs.com, and we'll gladly help you. We've got your back and reply quickly.

Question 14

When will my lab results be available?

Accepted Answer

Most test results will be available within 1–3 business days. Once they're ready, we'll send an email and text message to let you know.
            After your blood draw, just hang tight and don't worry – we'll keep you updated and in the loop!
            If you have any further questions, please text us at 754-799-7833 or email support@privatemdlabs.com, and we'll gladly help you.

Question 15

Is it possible to make changes to my lab order if I made a mistake with the name, date of birth, or any other details?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! We totally understand that errors can happen. No worries, we're here to help you.
            Just reach out to us via text at 754-799-7833 or shoot us an email at
            support@privatemdlabs.com. Remember to include your order number and let us know the correct information you’d like to update.
            Our awesome team will jump right in and make sure everything is sorted out and accurate for you.
            There are no changes necessary if your address is wrong on the requisition though. We don’t mail anything out.
            Our lab requires an address to be listed to generate an order.

Question 16

Do you accept health insurance?

Accepted Answer

Only HSA & FSA is accepted.
            Our services are strictly self-pay and cannot be submitted to your health insurance provider except for Health Savings Accounts or Flexible Savings Accounts.
            This policy applies to all insurance companies, including federal health insurance programs like Medicare.
            If you have any questions, please text us at 754-799-7833 or email support@privatemdlabs.com.

Question 17

Can I cancel my order?

Accepted Answer

Yes.
            We get it – sometimes your needs change.
            As long as your samples haven’t been collected yet, we’re happy to help you cancel your order.
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            You can read more about our cancellation policy here.

Question 18

How can I find a lab location near me?

Accepted Answer

During the ordering process, you’ll be able to select a specific lab near you, with no strings attached!
            You can switch it up later easily and visit any of our authorized locations as long as it’s the same lab company you selected your test for (Quest Diagnostics or Labcorp).
            Before you proceed with your order, feel free to browse through all our lab locations here. This will give you the peace of mind of knowing that there's a lab nearby your home, office or your favorite gym.
            If you have any questions, please text us at 754-799-7833 or email support@privatemdlabs.com and we'll gladly help you.

Relapsing Hepatitis A Blood Test

What is Relapsing Hepatitis A?

What causes relapsing Hepatitis A?

What is the best test for relapsing Hepatitis A?

When should I get tested for relapsing Hepatitis A?

References

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