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Communicable Disease Fact Sheet
Hepatitis A
What is it?
Symptoms
How is hepatitis A spread?
Diagnosis and Treatment
Steps to prevention
Who should get hepatitis A
vaccine?
Child care and food establishments
What is it?
Hepatitis A is a virus that causes infection of
the liver.
Symptoms
 | Symptoms usually begin 2 to 6 weeks after
exposure to the virus and usually last less than 2 months; a few persons
are ill for as long as 6 months. |
| Persons with hepatitis A virus infection may
not have any signs or symptoms of the disease. Older persons are more
likely to have symptoms than children. If symptoms are present, they may
include fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal discomfort, dark
urine, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). |
| Persons can have all or only a few of these
symptoms. |
How is
hepatitis A spread?
| Hepatitis A virus is found in the stool
(feces) of persons with hepatitis A. |
| Hepatitis A virus is spread from person to
person by putting something in the mouth (even though it may look clean) that
has been contaminated with the stool of a person with hepatitis A. |
| the virus is more easily spread in areas where
there are poor sanitary conditions or where good personal hygiene is not
observed (when an infected person does not
thoroughly wash his/her hands after going to the bathroom). |
| Hepatitis A can be spread through drinking
water or eating shellfish contaminated with the virus. |
| A person is most contagious during the 2 weeks
before the illness symptoms begin. |
| Hepatitis A is not spread by kissing,
sneezing, or by saliva. |
Diagnosis
and treatment
| Hepatitis A is diagnosed with a blood test
called the hepatitis A IgM test. |
| Rest, a low fat diet, and plenty of fluids are
recommended. Avoid drugs and alcohol. |
Steps to
prevention
| Hepatitis A vaccine is the best protection. |
| Wash hands thoroughly with soap and running,
warm water after using the toilet, changing diapers, and before preparing or
eating food. |
| Keep bathrooms clean and supplied with soap
and clean towels. |
| Change diapers on surfaces that can be cleaned
and sanitized after every use. |
| Never change diapers on eating or food
preparation surfaces. |
| Cook shellfish thoroughly before eating. |
| Drink water from approved sources only. |
| Short-term protection against hepatitis A is
available from immune globulin. It can be given before and within 2
weeks after coming in contact with Hepatitis A virus. |
Who should get hepatitis A vaccine?
| Travelers to areas with increased rates of
hepatitis A |
| Gay and bisexual men |
| Injecting and non-injecting drug users |
| Persons with chronic liver disease, including
chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C |
| Persons with clotting factor disorders, such
as hemophiliacs. |
| Anyone else who wants protection against
hepatitis A. |
Child care and food establishments
Please notify the Mohave County Department of
Public Health immediately whenever a foodhandler, childcare worker, or
child attending a childcare develops hepatitis A infection.
All information is general in nature and is not
intended to be used as a substitute for appropriate professional advice.
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