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Hepatitis A - Overview

Alternative Names

Viral hepatitis

Definition of Hepatitis A:

Hepatitis A is inflammation (irritation and swelling) of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The hepatitis A virus is found in the stools, blood, and semen of an infected person about 15 to 45 days before symptoms occur and during the first week of illness.

You can catch hepatitis A if:

You come in contact with food or water contaminated by the virus
You come in contact with a person who currently has the disease

There are approximately 100,000 hepatitis A infections in the United States every year.

Risk factors include:

International travel, especially to Asia or South or Central America
IV drug use
Living in a nursing home or rehabilitation center
Working in a health care, food, or sewage industry

Other common hepatitis virus infections include hepatitis B and hepatitis C, but hepatitis A is the least serious and most mild of these diseases. Both of the others may become chronic illnesses, but hepatitis A does not.

Digestive system

Fly

Hepatitis A

Erythema multiforme, circular lesions - hands

Digestive system organs

Reviewed last on: 9/20/2008
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases. Recommended immunization schedules for children and adolescents--United States, 2008. Pediatrics. 2008 Jan;121(1):219-20.

Recommended Immunization Schedule for Persons Aged 7–18 Years--United States, 2008. MMWR. October 19, 2007 / 56(41);Q1-Q4.

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Recommended adult immunization schedule: United States, October 2007-September 2008. Ann Intern Med. 2007 Nov 20;147(10):725-9.

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