10 Hepatitis A Symptoms
Hepatitis A is a condition caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). It is an infectious condition with few or no symptoms. The time between infection and the start of symptoms is approximately two to six weeks. Once the symptoms appear, it can last up to six weeks. Approximately 10 to 15 percent of individuals have a recurrence of their symptoms within weeks (approximately 3 weeks) after infection. Hepatitis A usually resolves spontaneously but it can very rarely lead to acute liver failure.
Hepatitis A usually spreads via the consumption of food or water that is contaminated with infected feces. Another common source is raw shellfish. Isolated cases of parenteral transmission (intravenous transmission) of HAV have also been reported. Infected children often do not have symptoms but are still able to infect others. After an individual is infected, he or she will be immune to the virus for the rest of his or her life.
The diagnosis can be achieved through blood tests. Vaccination is recommended as a means of prevention. In some countries, vaccination for hepatitis A is routinely recommended for younger children and those at risk. Other prevention methods include handwashing and cooking food thoroughly. While there is no specific treatment for hepatitis A infection, symptomatic treatments include rest, medications for nausea or diarrhea, and liver transplant (if liver failure occurs).
About 114 million hepatitis A cases occur every year, with 1.4 million that are symptomatic. This condition is most commonly found in areas with poor sanitation. It has been estimated that about 90 percent of children in the developing world are infected by the age of ten and, therefore, are immune by adulthood.
