Hepatitis A

The following information may be attributed to the Ohio Department of Health.

Hepatitis A is a worldwide disease with a higher prevalence in developing nations where poorer sanitary conditions contribute to its spread. However, this disease still poses a significant health threat in the U.S. Ohio reports approximately 800 cases of Hepatitis A each year.

WHO gets hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is transmitted by the "fecal-oral" route. This means that the virus, present in the stool of an infected person, can be contracted by putting something in the mouth that has been contaminated by their feces. Usually this happens indirectly, through eating food prepared by someone who is infected and has not taken hygiene precautions, or by drinking water contaminated by sewage. Sexual contact can also transmit the virus.

WHAT causes hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is caused by hepatitis A virus.

WHEN do most cases of hepatitis A occur?
Hepatitis A does not have a season in which it occurs more frequently. Due to the communicable nature of the disease, the disease does have the potential to lead to a small "outbreak" if an infected person has exposure to the community and precautions are not taken.

HOW does hepatitis A make people ill?
Hepatitis A virus causes an acute liver disease. Seventy-five percent of people infected with the virus develop symptoms which include: fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, dark urine and yellowing of the skin and eyeballs (jaundice). These symptoms develop rapidly and more often affect adults than children. Symptoms can persist for 2 months; some people can be ill for as long as 6 months. A person is most infectious one week before symptoms appear and during the first week of symptoms. An infected person, who is not showing symptoms, can still transmit the virus. After the illness has resolved, hepatitis A causes no chronic liver damage or disease. No treatment exists to cure a hepatitis A infection after it has developed. It usually resolves on its own, but depending on the severity of the infection, the hepatitis A symptoms might need medical management. Immune globin, a preparation of antibodies, is administered to protect a person who has been exposed to the virus from developing the disease. This must be administered within 2 weeks of exposure for it to be effective.

WHAT about a vaccine?
Hepatitis A vaccine is available and is usually given to people of high risk groups including: people traveling to countries with high rates of hepatitis A, children in communities that have high rates of hepatitis A, persons who have chronic liver disease, illegal-drug users, and men who have sex with men.

MEDIA CONTACT: (614) 644-8562

Last Updated: 09/08/2000