Hepatitis A Fact Sheet
- Return to Incubation Periods And Symptoms.
- Return to Hepatitis A Images.
- Return to About Hepatitis A.
Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that results from infection with the hepatitis A virus (HAV). It has the potential to range from a mild illness with limited syptomology to a severe illness lasting several months. Hepatitis A is usually spread when a person ingests food contaminated by the virus. Hepatitis A appears only as an acute or newly occurring infection and does not become chronic.
Reported cases of Hepatitis A are at their lowest in 40 years, due in large part, to effective vaccination programs. Doctors now vaccinate children, people traveling abroad and those at heightened risk for the disease. Vaccination with the full, two-dose series of hepatitis A vaccine is the best way to prevent infection. The Hepatitis A vaccine has been licensed in the United States for use in people 12 months and older. The vaccine is recommended for persons who have an increased likelihood of contracting HAV infection or are more likely to get seriously ill if they contract the virus.
In the United States, there were an estimated 32,000 new hepatitis A virus infections in 2006. This estimate is considered to be conservative, however, because many people infected with Hepatitis A remain asymptomatic. In two recent outbreaks, one in 1997 and another in 2003, strawberries and green onions were considered to be the vehicles through which the pathogen was transmitted. Given that the virus is transmitted through fecal–oral contact, good hygiene (including proper hand washing), is integral to the prevention of illness.
Not surprisingly, illnesses associated with Hepatitis A are more likely to occur in countries where Hepatitis A is common, and where there are poor sanitary conditions or poor personal hygiene. The food and drinks most likely to be contaminated include fruits, vegetables, shellfish, ice, and water. In the United States, chlorination of water typically kills virus when present in water.
There is no specific treatment for Hepatitis A. Patients generally suffer from loss of appetite, and the main concern is ensuring that a patient receives adequate nutrition. Young children infected with Hepatitis A commonly remain asymptomatic. For adults, the most common symptom, occurring in more than 70 percent of cases, is jaundice. Symptoms usually last less than 2 months, although extremely rare cases can experience a prolonged or relapsing illness which can last for up to 6 months. The average incubation period for Hepatitis A is 28 days. The most common symptoms—aside from jaundice—include:
- Fever;
- Fatigue;
- Loss of appetite;
- Nausea;
- Vomiting;
- Abdominal pain;
- Dark urine;
- Clay-colored bowel movements; or
- Joint pain.
Like other pathogens, illness from Hepatitis A can be easily avoided. The pathogen is killed after one minute at 185 degrees F (85 degrees C). Thus, properly boiling contaminated water, or thoroughly cooking contaminated foods, will destroy the virus.
References:
