Hepatitis C virus spread condition

Hepatitis A is an inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). The virus is mainly spread when an uninfected (and unvaccinated) person consumes food or water contaminated with feces from an infected person. The disease is closely associated with unsafe water or food, inadequate sanitation, poor personal hygiene, and oral sex.

Hepatitis A is spread sporadically throughout the world and tends to recur periodically. They can also be long-lasting, affecting communities over several months through person-to-person transmission. Hepatitis A virus persists in the environment and is resistant to food manufacturing processes typically used to inactivate or control bacterial pathogens.

Geographical distribution areas can be classified as high, medium, or low levels of hepatitis A virus infection. However, infection does not always mean illness because infected young children do not develop obvious symptoms.

Adults are more likely than children to develop signs and symptoms of the disease. Disease severity and mortality outcomes were higher in the older group. Infected children under 6 years of age usually have no obvious symptoms, and only 10% develop jaundice. Hepatitis A sometimes recurs, meaning a person who has just recovered will have another acute episode. Recovery usually follows.

Anyone who has not been vaccinated or has been previously infected can become infected with the hepatitis A virus. In areas where the virus is widespread (hyperendemic), most cases of hepatitis A infection occur in early childhood. Risk factors include:
Cases of hepatitis A are clinically indistinguishable from other forms of acute viral hepatitis. A specific diagnosis is made by testing for HAV-specific immunoglobulin G (IgM) antibodies in the blood. Other tests include reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), which detects hepatitis A virus RNA and may require specialized laboratory equipment.