Hepatitis A Prevention

CONTENTS Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus HAV . Hepatitis A can affect anyone. In the United States, hepatitis A can occur in situations ranging from isolated cases of disease to widespread epidemics. Good personal hygiene and proper sanitation can help prevent hepatitis A. Vaccine are also available for long-term prevention of hepatitis A virus infection in persons 2 years of age and older.Immune globulin is available for short-term prevention in all ages. How do you get hepatitis A?Hepatitis A virus HAV is found in the stool of persons with hepatitisA. HAV is usually spread from person to person by putting something in themouth that had been contaminated with the stool of a person with hepatitis A.For this reason, the virus is more easily spread in areas where there are poorsanitary conditions or where personal hygiene is not observed.Persons with hepatitis A can spread the virus to others who live in thesame household or with whom they have sexual contact.

Casual contact as inthe usual office, factory, or school setting does not spread the virus.Who is at risk for hepatitis A? Persons who share a household or have sex contact with someone who has the hepatitis A Travelers to countries where hepatitis A is common and where clean water and proper sewage disposal are not available Men who have sex with men Persons who use street drugs Children and employees in child care centers especially centers that have children in diapers where a child or employee has hepatitis A Residents and staff of institutions for developmentally disabled persons when a resident or employee has hepatitis A Workers who handle HAV-infected animals or work with HAV in a research laboratory setting.

This does not include laboratories doing routine testing.

Persons with clotting factor disorders who receive clotting factor concentrates Howdo you know if you have hepatitis A?Three of every four adultswho get hepatitis A have symptoms that usually develop over a period of severaldays. Children who are infected often have no symptoms.If you have symptoms your eyes may turn yellow and you may have dark urine you may be tired you may lose your appetite you may have nausea, vomiting, fever, or stomach ache A person can spread HAV aboutone week before symptoms appear and during the first week of symptoms.

Personswith no symptoms can still spread the virus.This often happens with youngchildren who unknowingly spread HAV to older children and adults.Unlike hepatitis B andhepatitis C, hepatitis A causes no long-term liver damage and usually does notcause death.

There is no chronic carrier state with hepatitis A. Having had thedisease produces life-long immunity from future HAV infection.Howcan you prevent hepatitis A? You should always wash your hands after using the bathroom, changing a diaper, and before eating or preparing food. Hepatitis A vaccines provide long-term protection against hepatitis A and are licensed for use in persons 2 years of age and older.

Children and adults need twoshots of hepatitis A vaccine for long-term protection.Your doctor or nursewill tell you when to return for the second shot. Immune globulin, apreparation of antibodies, is recommended for short-term protection againsthepatitis A and for persons who have already been exposed to HAV. Immuneglobulin must be given within two weeks of exposure to HAV for maximumprotection. Whoshould receive hepatitis A vaccine? Persons who work in or travel to areas where hepatitis A is common. first dose should be given at least 4 weeks before travel Children in states and countries with constant increased rates of hepatitis A. County and state health departments can tell you whether your areas have these higher hepatitis A rates.

Men who have sex with men Persons who use street drugs Persons with clotting factor disorders, such as hemophilia Persons who work with HAV-infected animals or work with HAV in a research setting hepatitis A vaccine is not generally recommended for health care workers . Canyou get hepatitis A from food or water? In addition to getting hepatitis A directly from infected people, you can get hepatitis A by swallowing contaminated water or ice eating raw shellfish harvested from sewage-contaminated water eating fruits, vegetables, or other food that may have become contaminated during handling CanHAV be killed?The virus is killed byboiling at 85 degrees C 185 degrees F for 1 minute.

However, the disease canstill be spread by cooked foods if they are contaminated after cooking.Adequate chlorination of water, as recommended in the United States, kills HAV.The material hasbeen taken from http www.cdc.gov ncidod diseases hepatitis resource a prevent.htm.