HEPATITIS A (Infectious Hepatitis)

VIRAL HEPATITIS A - is a systemic disease primarily involving the liver that can cause mild to severe
illness. It is primarily spread when an uninfected (and unvaccinated) person ingests food or water that is
contaminated with the feces of an infected person. Unlike hepatitis B and C, hepatitis A infection does not
cause chronic liver disease and is rarely fatal, but it can cause debilitating symptoms and fulminant
hepatitis (acute liver failure)
CAUSATIVE AGENT:
Hepatitis A virus (HAV) responsible for infectious hepatitis
MODE OF TRANSMISSION
One can get Hepatitis A through:

Transmission of the virus is primarily by the fecal-oral route; that is when an uninfected person
ingests food or water that has been contaminated with the faeces of an infected person.

Transmitted also through close physical contact with an infectious person, although casual
contact among people does not spread the virus.

Eat fruits, vegetables, or other foods that were contaminated during handling.

Eat raw shellfish harvested from water that's got the virus in it.

Swallow contaminated ice.

Hepatitis A is seldom transmitted by the use of contaminated needles and syringes or through
administration of blood. There is little evidence of transmission by exposure to urine and nasopharyngeal
secretions.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Incubation period of hepatitis A is usually 1428 days. Symptoms range from mild to severe
but not everyone who is infected will have all of the symptoms.

It may include:

Fever & nausea

Malaise

loss of appetite

Diarrhea

abdominal discomfort

Dark-colored urine

Jaundice (a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes).

Adults have signs and symptoms of illness more often than children and the severity of disease
and mortality increases in older age groups. Infected children under 6 years of age do not usually
experience noticeable symptoms, and only 10% develop jaundice.

TREATMENT
There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A. Recovery from symptoms following infection may
be slow and may take several weeks or months. Therapy is aimed at maintaining comfort and
adequate nutritional balance, including replacement of fluids that are lost from vomiting and diarrhea.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES
The most effective ways to combat HAV are:

Improved sanitation & Food safety

The spread of hepatitis A can be reduced by:

Adequate supplies of safe drinking water;

Proper disposal of sewage within communities; and
Personal hygiene practices such as regular hand-washing with safe water.

Immunization

Formalin-inactivated HAV vaccine is available. Routine vaccination of all children is

now recommended, as is vaccination of persons at increased risk, including:

Travelers to countries where the virus is endemic;

Men who have sex with men
People with chronic liver disease (because of their increased risk of serious
complications if they acquire hepatitis A infection).

Vaccination efforts should be supplemented by health education to improve

sanitation, hygiene practices and food safety.

WHO is working in the following areas to prevent and control viral hepatitis.

raising awareness, promoting partnerships and mobilizing resources;

formulating evidence-based policy and data for action;
preventing transmission
Executing screening, care and treatment.