Health Advice

Latest from blog

Head Lice – Help!!!

Every parent’s heart sinks when they receive the dreaded note from school warning about head lice. Don’t worry – Jane Brennan from Brennan’s Life Pharmacy in Donabate is here to to give us advice and tips. The first thing to do is to check the child’s head. You will need some tea tree conditioner, a... Read more >

Read more

Are You SunSmart?

We ask Jane Brennan from Brennan’s Life Pharmacy Donabate how to make the most of great sunny summer days whilst protecting our skin from harmful rays. Jane says “The Irish Cancer Society SunSmart program has great guidelines to keep us safe. See below for some useful tips and advice” Ways to protect your skin: Shade... Read more >

Read more

Pollen Highs & Watery Eyes

Pollen Highs & Watery Eyes… Talk to Jane Brennan, your Hay Fever Expert in Donabate Are your eyes itchy, red or watery? Is your throat scratchy? Are you sneezing? Do you have itchy ears, nose or mouth? Do you have a blocked or runny nose? Do you wake up feeling exhausted? Hay fever can cause... Read more >

Read more

Life Pharmacy Ireland – Live Better

Bringing you the best health advice for your family

NHS Choices - Diagnosing hepatitis A

(25/06/2014)

If you have been in contact with someone infected with hepatitis A, or you begin to have symptoms associated with hepatitis A, such as jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), see your GP.

Your GP will be able to diagnose hepatitis A with a blood test. If this shows a positive reaction to antibodies (proteins produced by your immune system to fight disease), it means your body is making antibodies to fight the hepatitis A virus present in your blood.

Further testing is usually only required if:

  • the diagnosis is uncertain
  • your symptoms show no sign of improvement after a few months
  • there is concern you may have developed complications such as liver failure (loss of normal liver function)

In these circumstances, one or more of the following tests may be recommended:

  • liver function test – a type of blood test that can be used to check how well your liver is working
  • ultrasound scan – where high-frequency sound waves are used to build up an image of the inside of your liver
  • liver biopsy – where a small sample of liver tissue is removed and checked for any problems
Back to Hepatitis A