HEPATITIS A is a viral disease that affects the liver. Hepatitis symptoms can be helped with medication, rest, and diet. Most people recover fully from hepatitis A.

TRANSMISSION - Person to person, by fecal to oral route. The virus is only found in the feces (bowel movement). The virus enters the body through the mouth (commonly on contaminated food). Small children with hepatitis A can infect others by direct hand-to-mouth contact or through shared toys. Parents of diapered children may transfer the virus to food if good hand-washing is not done after diapering. In countries where sewage is deposited in the drinking water source, infection can occur through contaminated drinking water.

SYMPTOMS - Symptoms begin suddenly and include fever, chills, headache, and vomiting. This is followed by pain in the stomach, right side, or back. Other signs of hepatitis are a light or gray colored stool, brown or orange colored urine and/or jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin). Small children rarely have more than a slight fever, lack of appetite, some fatigue, and a "tummy ache". Young children tolerate hepatitis A well and it often goes undiagnosed.

INCUBATION - Symptoms start 15 to 50 days after exposure, an average of 28 to 30 days in adults. Children sometimes show symptoms as soon as 15 days.

COMMUNICABILITY - The virus can be transmitted 10 days prior to and one week after the onset of the colored urine and jaundice. A person is most infectious a few days prior to symptoms beginning. Very little of the virus is excreted a week after jaundice begins.

SUSCEPTIBILITY - The general population. Individuals who have had hepatitis A in the past are not likely to get it again.

TREATMENT - The human body can fight off the hepatitis A virus. Following your doctor's instructions will help reduce the severity of hepatitis symptoms and speed recovery. Avoidance of alcohol will relieve the liver of added work.

PREVENTION - The best way to prevent the spread of hepatitis A is by good hand washing. Immune Globulin (IG) may prevent hepatitis and is recommended for close contacts such as household members. For the best results IG should be received within two weeks of exposure (preferable one week). You should still watch for hepatitis symptoms even if IG is taken.