Hepatitis A

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Latin-American Studies > Immigration/Emigration issues
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Hepatitis A

This paper discusses the problem of hepatitis A among recent immigrants from Mexico.

1,585 words () | 5 sources | MLA | 2005 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, because most of the immigrants have more than likely been in the area for less than a month, and since the average incubation is approximately 28 days, it is more than likely that they acquired the illness in Mexico; since Hepatitis A is quite common in Mexico, a majority of the people will have developed a natural immunity to the illness but will be great carriers for others. The author points out that Hispanic folk medicine today believes that illness and disease is caused by imbalance between cold and hot principles; however, the problem with this folk system is that Hispanic individuals will not seek care until they are very ill and very infectious. The paper relates that follow-up and assuring compliance are the biggest problem.

From the Paper:

"Hepatitis A is acquired by mouth, usually through fecal-oral transmission, and then replicates in the liver. The virus is then present in the blood and feces 10-12 days after infection and can be excreted for up to three weeks after the onset of symptoms. The incubation period for the virus is approximately 28 days (this amount was roughly the same through the many sources acquired for this paper). The illness has a sudden onset of several symptoms to include; malaise, fever, nausea, abdominal pain/discomfort, jaundices, and dark colored urine. Diagnosis can be confirmed with anti-HAV IgM antibody, which can be detected in patients with an acute infection."