1. What is hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A (HAV) is a virus that infects the liver. Hepatitis literally means "liver inflammation" and is prevalent around the world, especially in Mexico, Central and South America, Greenland, Africa, the Middle East, and the entire Asian continent.
2. How is hepatitis A spread?
Most individuals who become infected with hepatitis A have had personal contact with someone carrying the hepatitis A virus. Infected individuals carry the virus in their stool so transmission is from hand to mouth contact, such as when someone uses the restroom and doesn't wash his or her hands and then prepares food for others. Additional modes of transmission include drinking contaminated water or consuming foods, like raw shellfish taken from contaminated water.
3. What are the signs and symptoms of hepatitis A?
Symptoms of hepatitis A usually will manifest two to six weeks after exposure and include the following.
• Feeling tired or fatiguing easily
• Abdominal pain especially below the right lower ribs where the liver resides
• Nausea and vomiting
• Decreased appetite
• Fever
• Later symptoms include yellowing of the skin (jaundice) and whites of the eyes, itchy skin and changes in stool and urine color
4. What is the treatment for hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A cannot be cured but it is usually a self-limiting disease, and the majority of people infected with hepatitis A will improve within three to six months. Treatment consists of rest and avoidance of alcohol and medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) during the recovery phase. Most individuals will be able to recuperate at home without any complications but occasionally may require hospitalization. Very rarely hepatitis A will cause liver failure.
5. How is hepatitis A prevented?
Hepatitis A can be prevented with a vaccine that is recommended for adults and children over the age of one. There is also post-exposure prophylaxis for individuals not previously vaccinated for hepatitis A. An injection of immune globulin (IG) or a single dose of single-antigen hepatitis A vaccine can be given to help prevent hepatitis A development after exposure. Which treatment is given depends on an individual's age and health status.
Other important prevention methods include frequent hand washing and safe food handling techniques. Hand washing is the easiest and most important aspect of prevention. Persons should wash their hands with an anitmicrobial soap for 15-30 seconds which is the equivalent of singing the ABCs or the birthday song.
More information can be found at the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov.
