HYDERABAD, September 13, 2025 – A 22-year-old IT professional in Hyderabad was forced to take a month off work after contracting acute Hepatitis A from consuming contaminated panipuri and unfiltered water, doctors at Aster Prime Hospital report.
The patient, (chose to remain anonymous), was admitted to Aster Prime Hospital after experiencing yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice), abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, weakness, and dark urine. Two weeks earlier, he had eaten panipuri from a roadside vendor and drank unfiltered water. Laboratory tests confirmed the diagnosis: acute Hepatitis A, with elevated liver enzymes and a positive anti-HAV IgM antibody test.
The doctors of Aster Prime Hospital, one of the main hospitals in the city, treated him in time and saved his life.
Dr. Kaluvala Harsha Theja, Consultant Gastroenterologist at Aster Prime, explained to Deccan Chronicles that while Hepatitis A is often self-limiting in young adults, neglecting symptoms can lead to serious complications. “This patient's case highlights how something as common as eating unhygienic street food can trigger serious liver infections.”
Treatment for the 22 year old boy involved supportive care: hydration, liver-protective medications, dietary adjustments, and complete rest for 2-3 weeks. With regular monitoring, his liver function gradually improved, and he made a full recovery in about four weeks.
Dr. Theja also advised him “on the importance of safe eating habits and to consider Hepatitis A vaccination for future protection.”
Health specialists at Aster Prime warn that similar risks are not rare. Dr. Theja emphasized street foods—including panipuri, chutneys, raw salads, and undercooked noodles—pose high risk for Hepatitis A & E due to poor hygiene and contaminated water.
Hepatitis A is a liver inflammation caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Transmission usually occurs when an uninfected and unvaccinated individual consumes food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person. The illness is strongly linked to unsafe food and water, inadequate sanitation, poor hygiene practices, and oral–anal sexual contact. 1
Dr. Hari Kumar Reddy, CEO of Aster Prime Hospital, informed Deccan Chronicles that, “Vaccination against Hepatitis A is available in India and should be promoted through regular awareness drives, especially in endemic regions.
"Hepatitis A and E remain major preventable public health concerns in India. Doctors warn that improving sanitation, food safety, and vaccination coverage are vital to reducing the burden of such infections.”
Doctors at Aster Prime stress that everyday choices—where we eat, what water we drink—can have major impact on liver health. Awareness campaigns, vaccination, and food safety regulation are essential to prevent such avoidable illnesses.
1. World Health Organization. “Hepatitis A.” WHO, last modified February 12, 2025. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-a.
(Rh/Eth/ARC/MSM)