HAV is contracted by eating food or drinking water that has been contaminated with human excrement. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 150,000 people in the United States are infected each year by hepatitis A.
Who is at risk for hepatitis A?
The CDC lists household or sexual contact, day care attendance or employment, and recent international travel as the major known risk factors for transmission of hepatitis A. Food handlers and those who have used contaminated needles are also at risk.
What are the symptoms of hepatitis A infection?
As with other hepatitis viruses, a person infected with hepatitis A may not have any symptoms, especially children under 2 years old. However, some people experience flu-like symptoms, such as fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and pain in the liver area. Not-so-common symptoms are dark urine, light-colored stools, and fever. Most people recover within 6 months.
