Is the "magic medicine" for hepatitis A really what was exchanged for the color TV ticket in "Fanhua"?

This is the 4875th article of Da Yi Xiao Hu

There is a plot in the hit drama "Fang Hua" in 2023: The male protagonist A Bao, played by Hu Ge, and his friend Tao Tao (played by Chen Long) were infected with hepatitis A one after another. In order to get the "life-saving medicine" Isatis root, which was sold at a price more than ten times higher and even sold out, A Bao had to exchange Tao Tao's color TV ticket.

This TV series is directed by the famous director Wong Kar-wai. It is a story about a little person represented by A Bao who takes advantage of the opportunities of the times and his personal talents, bravely faces difficulties in the challenging social wave, and gradually changes his destiny and achieves personal growth through unyielding efforts and determination. Today, let's not talk about anything else, let's talk about "Hepatitis A".

What is Hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A or Hepatitis A stands for viral hepatitis A, which is caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV) and is an infectious disease characterized by inflammation of the liver. People of all ages may develop the disease, but children and adolescents are the main susceptible population. Compared with children, the clinical symptoms of hepatitis A in adults are generally more severe. Generally speaking, the peak season for hepatitis A is winter and spring. The course of the disease is usually self-limiting and will not become chronic, leading to even rarer cases of acute severe hepatitis. With the popularization of inactivated vaccines around the world, the prevalence of hepatitis A has been effectively controlled.

How is Hepatitis A spread?

Hepatitis A patients and asymptomatic carriers are the sources of infection, which are mainly transmitted through the fecal-oral route. The forms of transmission are also diverse, and daily contact transmission is usually the main way of sporadic disease. Therefore, the incidence of hepatitis A is higher in collective units such as schools, childcare institutions and the military.

The spread of hepatitis A through water and food, especially aquatic shellfish, is the main way for hepatitis A to spread. In the TV series, Abao accidentally contracted hepatitis A in 1987; in real history, in 1988, a large-scale hepatitis A epidemic also broke out in Shanghai. That year, after the hepatitis A epidemic broke out in Shanghai, the city's 55,000 beds were quickly filled, and the capacity of major hospitals in the city exceeded the limit. And all of this came from just one kind of shellfish: hairy clams.

What are the symptoms of hepatitis A?

In the early stages of hepatitis A, patients may experience loss of appetite, fatigue, darker urine, and sometimes fever. In severe cases, the sclera and skin may turn yellow. Clinically, hepatitis A can be divided into two types: overt infection and asymptomatic latent infection. Adults usually show overt infection after infection, while children or the elderly are more likely to show latent infection after infection.

How to prevent and treat hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a self-limiting disease, which is mainly treated with supportive treatment, supplemented by appropriate symptomatic drugs, and avoiding fatigue, drinking, and the use of drugs that are harmful to the liver. It is emphasized that bed rest is required in the early stage until the symptoms are significantly reduced, and then activities can be gradually increased to ensure that you do not feel tired.

In the TV series, Isatis root has become a hot commodity for the treatment of hepatitis A. This actually happened during the 1988 Shanghai Hepatitis A outbreak. So, can Isatis root really treat hepatitis A? To be precise, Isatis root cannot treat hepatitis A, it can only relieve symptoms, and excessive use is harmful. Although Isatis root has the effect of clearing away heat and detoxifying, it cannot directly kill or inhibit the hepatitis A virus, nor can it repair or protect damaged liver cells. Although Isatis root has the effect of clearing away heat and detoxifying, it cannot directly kill or inhibit the hepatitis A virus, nor can it repair or protect damaged liver cells. However, if Isatis root is taken in excess, it will cause adverse reactions, such as indigestion, hemolysis, allergies, etc., and may even increase the burden on the liver and affect recovery.

Hepatitis A itself is a self-limiting disease, and there is no specific medicine. Isatis root is not a panacea for the treatment and prevention of hepatitis A and should not be used blindly. The most effective way to prevent hepatitis A is vaccination, and the main method of treating hepatitis A is symptomatic supportive treatment.

In addition, developing good hygiene habits is essential to prevent hepatitis A infection. Food should be heated at high temperatures. Generally speaking, heating it to 100°C for one minute can inactivate the hepatitis A virus.

Fund projects: 2023 Jing'an District Science Popularization Project (KP2023055); 2023 Jing'an District Health Science Popularization Leading Project; Shanghai Health Science Popularization Youth Talent Capacity Improvement Project (JKKPYC-2023-B14)

Author: Shanghai Jing'an District Central Hospital

Dr. Xia Lemin