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Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A, formerly called infectious hepatitis, is a form
of infectious viral hepatitis caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). In most
parts of the world a high proportion of the population has been exposed to the
hepatitis A virus. Hepatitis A and hepatitis B are the two most common forms
of the disease. Hepatitis A is characterized by a slow onset of symptoms such
as fatigue, low-grade fever, abdominal discomfort, jaundice, and abnormal liver
function. Because the infected liver is unable to filter bilirubin from the
blood the skin will become yellow in appearance (jaundiced) and bile excreted
in the stool and urine will result in clay-colored stool and tea-colored urine.
The infection, which usually occurs in young adults, has an incubation period
of two to three weeks and is followed by a full recovery. It will take one to
two months for the liver to completely heal. The virus is usually spread from
contact with contaminated feces (contaminated food and water) and occurs most
often in areas of poor sanitation. People can carry the virus and not have any
symptoms. A recently developed vaccine may temporarily protect against hepatitis
A in those contemplating travel to high-risk areas.
