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Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). It is spread by
eating food or drinking water that has been contaminated by infected human feces.
Infected food handlers can pass the virus on to other people if they do not wash
their hands with soap and water after using the bathroom. About 150,000 people in
the United States are infected each year with hepatitis A, according to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention.
Most infections with hepatitis A are acute. This means that the infection lasts for
less than 6 months and resolves itself without the help of medical treatment. With
hepatitis A, you may be able to continue to work and function, and you can recover
at home.
The CDC lists household or sexual contact, daycare attendance or
employment, and recent international travel as the major known risk
factors for transmission of hepatitis A. Infected food handlers
and people who have used contaminated needles are also at risk for
transmission of hepatitis A. Click here for
a complete list of the risk factors for acquiring hepatitis A.
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