What is Hepatitis A?
A liver disease caused by the Hepatitis A virus. The virus is found in the stool/feces of an infected person. The virus is usually spread by an infected person two weeks before the symptoms appear. Symptoms usually appear between 15 to 50 days after exposure.
Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for adults and children traveling from the United States to areas of increased risk of infection such as: Mexico, Central & South America, Parts of the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean basin and The Middle East.
What are the symptoms of Hepatitis A?
Fever, nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue, abdominal pain, dark urine, yellowing of the skin and eyes.
How is the virus spread?
Fecal/oral transmission. The virus can be spread by infected persons who don’t wash their hands thoroughly after going to the bathroom. Sexual contact with an infected person. When changing the diaper of an infected child.
What effect can Hepatitis A have on me?
On average, infected adults lose more than five weeks of work. As many as 22 percent of patients are hospitalized.
How can Hepatitis A be prevented?
Vaccines that protect against Hepatitis A are now available. Hepatitis A vaccines stimulate the body’s immune system, protecting you if you are exposed to the virus. To make your protection last longer, you will need two shots ¯ the first and then a “booster” shot. The Hepatitis A vaccine is considered safe and effective. It uses an inactivated virus, so the vaccine will not give you the disease.
Signs & Symptoms ¯ Children vs. Adults Hepatitis A symptoms include jaundice, dark urine, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, abdominal pain and appetite loss. Adults experience jaundice more frequently than children. Children show a greater incidence of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The infection in children under one year of age is often mild and most children do not show symptoms, although they excrete the virus in their feces. Because young children are at high risk for fecal contamination by their hands, they can be efficient transmitters of the disease. In contrast, 75 ¯ 90 percent of adults develop symptoms. As many as 20 percent of patients experience relapse of Hepatitis A that can last as long as 15 months.
Outbreaks among children attending day care centers and persons employed at centers have been recognized since the 1970’s. Because infection in children is usually mild or asymptomatic, outbreaks often are recognized only when adult contacts become ill. Poor hygiene among children who wear diapers and the handling and changing of diapers by staff contribute to the spread of Hepatitis A infections.
Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for adults and children traveling from the United States to areas of increased risk of infection such as: Mexico, Central & South America, Parts of the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean basin and The Middle East.
What effect can Hepatitis A have on me?
Symptoms of Hepatitis A infection commonly last less than two months. Some people get so sick they have to be hospitalized.
On average, infected adults lose more than five weeks of work.
As many as 22 percent of patients are hospitalized. Approximately 30 percent of patients 40 years of age or older are hospitalized. The percentage of deaths in this group is 16 times greater than in those younger than 15 years.
Up to 15 percent of patients experience a relapse.
Symptoms may last as long as six months.
Since Hepatitis A is very infectious, it is important to protect yourself against it.