| Disease
Fact Sheet Series:
What is hepatitis A?
Hepatitis
A (formerly known as infectious hepatitis) is a liver disease caused by
the hepatitis A virus. The
disease is not uncommon; approximately 30-40 cases are reported each year
in Wisconsin.
Who gets hepatitis A?
Anyone
can get hepatitis A, but it occurs most frequently in children and
international travelers. Hepatitis A is quite prevalent in much of the
world, except for the USA, Western Europe, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia.
How is the virus spread?
The
hepatitis A virus enters through the mouth, multiplies in the body, and is
passed in the stool which becomes highly infectious.
If careful hand washing with soap is not done, the virus can then
be carried on an infected person's hands.
From there, the virus can be spread to others by direct contact, or
by consuming food or drink that has been handled by that infected
individual.
In some cases, it
can be spread by consuming water contaminated with improperly treated
sewage. Because the virus is
passed in the stool, children with hepatitis A who are not toilet trained
can be an important source of the infection. The hepatitis A virus is not normally spread to casual classroom
contacts of older children or to work associates of adults.
What are the symptoms of hepatitis A?
The
symptoms of hepatitis A may include profound fatigue, poor appetite, fever
and vomiting. Urine may become
darker in color, and jaundice (a yellowing of the skin and whites of the
eyes) may appear. The disease
is rarely fatal and most people recover without any complications after
several weeks. Infants and
young children tend to have very mild or no symptoms, and are much less
likely to develop jaundice than are older children and adults.
Persons who have pre-existing liver problems can become extremely
ill if they contract hepatitis A.
How soon do symptoms appear?
The
symptoms may appear two to seven weeks after exposure, but usually occur
about four weeks after exposure.
For how long is an infected person able to
spread the virus?
The
contagious period begins about two weeks before the symptoms appear, and
continues for about 7 to 10 days after onset of jaundice.
Does past infection with hepatitis A make a
person immune?
Once
an individual recovers from hepatitis A, he or she is immune for life and
does not continue to carry the virus.
What is the treatment for hepatitis A?
There
are no special medicines or antibiotics that can be used to cure hepatitis
A once the symptoms appear. Generally,
bed rest is all that is needed.
How can hepatitis A be prevented?
The
single most effective way prevent
the spread of hepatitis A virus is to receive the hepatitis A
vaccine. This vaccination is now recommended for all children one
year old or older. Other persons for whom the vaccine is recommended
include:
-
travelers to
countries that have high rates of hepatitis A
-
household
members and other close contacts (e.g. babysitters) of adopted
children newly arriving from a country where hepatitis A is prevalent
-
persons
with chronic liver disease
-
users
of illegal drugs
-
men
who have sex with men
-
persons
who work or reside in institutions for the developmentally challenged
-
persons
who receive certain blood products like clotting-factor concentrates
Vaccination
consists of two injections, given six to twelve months apart. The
initial dose provides immunity to hepatitis A beginning in about four
weeks and lasting about one year. The second dose provides long-term
immunity that last for years and perhaps lifelong. Other
preventive measures include careful handwashing after using the toilet,
after diapering children, and prior to handling food. The routine
use of good hygiene is important because a person with hepatitis A can be
infectious to others for about two weeks before they even know they are
sick. In addition, infectious people should not handle foods during
the contagious period. For
persons who have already been exposed to hepatitis A, a single dose of the
vaccine or an injection of immune globulin (depending on the person's age)
will minimize the chances of becoming ill, if it is administered within 14
days of exposure. Household members, day care contacts, or others
who have had close contact with an infected person should promptly call a
doctor or their local health department about the advisability of
obtaining the vaccine or immune globulin to avoid illness. In
typical workplace and classroom situations, casual contacts of cases of
hepatitis A do not need to receive the preventive treatment.
For more information, contact your
Local
Public Health Department
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Last Revised: January 14, 2010
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