Hepatitis A
How is hepatitis A spread?
Hepatitis A is spread primarily through food or water contaminated by feces from an infected person. Rarely, it spreads through contact with infected blood.Causes
The hepatitis A virus is found in the stools (feces) of people with hepatitis A. It is transmitted when a person puts something in his or her mouth that has been contaminated with the feces of an affected person. This is referred to as fecal-oral transmission.
Symptoms
Symptoms of hepatitis A usually develop between 2 and 6 weeks after infection. The symptoms are usually not too severe and go away on their own, over time. The most common symptoms are as follows:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea, especially in children
- Low-grade fever
- Loss of appetite
- Rash
- Tiredness, fatigue
- Jaundice - A yellow discoloration of the skin and the whites of the eyes
- Urine is dark brownish in color, like cola or strong tea.
- Pain in area of liver - On the right side of the abdomen, just under the rib cage
Who is at risk for hepatitis A?
People most likely to get hepatitis A are- international travelers, particularly those traveling to developing countries
- people who live with or have sex with an infected person
- people living in areas where children are not routinely vaccinated against hepatitis A, where outbreaks are more likely
- day care children and employees, during outbreaks
- men who have sex with men
- users of illicit drugs
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