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.
See also Major Risk Factors for Hepatitis A, B and C.
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