Hepatitis A
Sharing stools isn't such a good idea....
Did you know...?
Hispanics are twice as likely to be diagnosed with Hepatitis A than non-Hispanic Whites.
Causes of hepatitis A
The hepatitis A virus is found mostly in the stools and blood of an infected person about 15 - 45 days before symptoms occur and during the first week of illness.
You can catch hepatitis A if:
You eat or drink food or water that has been contaminated by stools (feces) containing the hepatitis A virus (fruits, vegetables, shellfish, ice, and water are common sources of the hepatitis A virus)
You come in contact with the stool or blood of a person who currently has the disease
A person with hepatitis A does not wash his or her hands properly after going to the bathroom and touches other objects or food
You participate in sexual practices that involve oral-anal contact
About 3,600 cases of hepatitis A are reported each year.
Risk factors include:
International travel, especially to Asia or South or Central America
IV drug use
Living in a nursing home or rehabilitation center
Working in a health care, food, or sewage industry
Wash your hands
If an infected individual does not wash his/her hands after using the restroom, the food you touch, and the people you come on contact with may become infected.
It's in your food!!
After using the restroom, if you don't wash your hands, the food you touch can become infected, making the person that eats it, if not yourself can become infected
Geography of hepatits A
Red-high Light blue- high/intermediate Green- intermediate Yellow-low White- not recorded
Symptoms
Symptoms
Symptoms will usually show up 2 - 6 weeks after being exposed to the hepatitis A virus. They are usually mild, but may last for up to several months, especially in adults.
Symptoms include:
Dark urine
Fatigue
Itching
Low-grade fever
Nausea and vomiting
Pale or clay colored stools
Yellow skin (jaundice)
Treatments?
There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A. Rest is recommended when the symptoms are most severe. People with acute hepatitis should avoid alcohol and any substances that are toxic to the liver, including Tylenol.
Fatty foods may cause vomiting, because substances from the liver are needed to digest fats. Fatty foods are best avoided during the acute phase.
Preventions...
The following tips can help reduce your risk of spreading or catching the virus:
Always wash your hands thoroughly after using the restroom and when you come in contact with an infected person's blood, stools, or other bodily fluid.
Avoid unclean food and water.
Common reasons why you may need to receive the immune globulin and/or the hepatitis A vaccine include:
You live with someone who has hepatitis A
You recently had sexual contact with someone who has hepatitis A
You recently shared illegal drugs, either injected or noninjected, with someone who has hepatitis A
You have had close personal contact over a period of time with someone who has hepatitis A
You have eaten in a restaurant where food or food handlers were found to be infected or contaminated with hepatitis A
Travelers should take the following precautions:
Avoid dairy products.
Avoid raw or undercooked meat and fish.
Beware of sliced fruit that may have been washed in contaminated water. Travelers should peel all fresh fruits and vegetables themselves.
Do not buy food from street vendors.
Get vaccinated against hepatitis A (and possibly hepatitis B) if traveling to countries where outbreaks of the disease occur.
Use only carbonated bottled water for brushing teeth and drinking. (Remember that ice cubes can carry infection.)
If no water is available, boiling water is the best method for eliminating hepatitis A. Bringing the water to a full boil for at least 1 minute generally makes it safe to drink.
Heated food should be hot to the touch and eaten right away.
Prognosis
The virus does not remain in the body after the infection has gone away.
Over 85% of people with hepatitis A recover within 3 months. Nearly all patients get better within 6 months.
There is a low risk of death, usually among the elderly and persons with chronic liver disease.