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Hepatitis A
(infectious hepatitis)
What is hepatitis A?
is a liver disease caused by a specific virus. The disease is fairly
common; more than 1,000 cases are reported in New York State each year.
Who gets hepatitis A?
Anyone can get hepatitis A, but it occurs more frequently in children.
How is the virus spread?
The hepatitis A virus enters through the mouth, multiplies in the
body and is passed in the feces. The virus can then be carried on an
infected personšs hands and can be spread by direct contact, or by consuming
food or drink that has been handled by the individual. In some cases,
it can be spread by consuming water contaminated with improperly treated
sewage.
What are the symptoms of hepatitis A?
The symptoms of hepatitis A may include fatigue, poor appetite, fever
and vomiting. Urine may become darker in color, and then jaundice (a
yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes) may appear. The disease
is rarely fatal and most people recover in a few weeks without any complications.
Infants and young children tend to have very mild symptoms and are less
likely to develop jaundice than are older children and adults. Not everyone
who is infected will have all of the symptoms.
How soon do symptoms appear?
The symptoms may appear two to six weeks after exposure, but usually
within three to four weeks.
For how long is an infected person able to spread the virus?
The contagious period begins about a week or so before the symptoms
appear, and extends up to the time 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
treat a person once the symptoms appear. Generally, bed rest is all
that is needed.
How can hepatitis A be prevented?
To prevent person-to-person spread, careful hand washing after visiting
the toilet is the single most important means of prevention. For close
contacts of a case, immune globulin shots are recommended to minimize
the risk of disease. For long term protection, a new hepatitis A vaccine
became available in 1995.
Who should obtain the new hepatitis A vaccine?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends
hepatitis A vaccine for:
- travelers to countries with high rates of hepatitis A;
- people living in communities with high rates of hepatitis A;
- people in certain outbreak settings;
- laboratory personnel who work with hepatitis A virus;
- sexually active homosexual/bisexual men;
- people with existing chronic liver disease;
- injecting drug users.
The hepatitis A vaccine may also be used in certain outbreak situations
where ongoing transmission in occurring. Although studies of certain occupational
groups (for example, food service workers, health care workers, child
care workers, sewerage workers) have not shown an increased risk, such
people may consider vaccination if they wish to further reduce their risk
or are in communities where ongoing outbreaks are occurring.
Updated: April 1996
Source: NY State Department of Health
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