|
Description |
Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. Hepatitis A can affect anyone. In the United States, hepatitis A can occur in situations ranging from isolated cases of disease to widespread epidemics.
Good personal hygiene and proper sanitation can help prevent hepatitis A. Vaccines are also available for long-term prevention of hepatitis A virus infection in persons 12 months of age and older. Immune globulin is available for short-term prevention of hepatitis A virus infection in individuals of all ages. |
| SIGNS
& SYMPTOMS |
Adults
will have signs and symptoms more often than children. |
- jaundice
- fatigue
-
abdominal pain
-
loss of appetite
|
|
| CAUSE |
|
| LONG-TERM
EFFECTS |
- There
is no chronic (long-term) infection.
- Once
you have had hepatitis A, you cannot get it again.
- About
15% of people infected with HAV will have prolonged or relapsing
symptoms over a 6-9 month period.
|
| TRANSMISSION |
- HAV
is found in the stool (feces) of persons with hepatitis A.
-
HAV is usually spread from person to person by putting something
in the mouth (even though it might look clean) that has been contaminated
with the stool of a person with hepatitis A.
|
| PERSONS
AT RISK for INFECTION |
- Household
contacts of infected persons
- Sex
contacts of infected persons
- Persons,
especially children, living in areas with increased rates of hepatitis
A during the baseline period of 1987-1997
- Travelers to
countries where hepatitis A is common
- Men who have sex with men
-
Users of injection and non-injection drugs
|
| PREVENTION |
- Hepatitis
A vaccine is the best protection.
- Short-term
protection against hepatitis A is available from immune globulin.
It can be given before and within 2 weeks of coming in contact
with HAV.
- Always
wash your hands with soap and water after using the bathroom,
changing a diaper, and before preparing and eating food.
|
| VACCINE
RECOMMENDATIONS |
Vaccine
is recommended for the following persons from 12 months of age and
older:
-
All children at age 1 year (i.e., 12–23 months)
-
Travelers to
countries where hepatitis A is common
- Men
who have sex with men
-
Users of injection
and non-injection drugs
- Persons
with clotting-factor disorders (e.g., hemophilia)
- Persons
with chronic liver disease
- Children
living in areas with increased rates of hepatitis A during the
baseline period of 1987-1997 (view
map)
-
Persons who work with HAV in a laboratory setting
|
| TRENDS &
STATISTICS |
-
Hepatitis A occurs
in epidemics both nationwide and in communities.
-
Before hepatitis A vaccine became available, the number of reported cases reached 35,000
per year.
- In
the late 1990s, hepatitis A vaccine was more widely used and the
number of cases reached historic lows.
- One-third
of Americans have evidence of past infection (immunity).
|
