Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. The virus is usually found in stool (bowel movement).
Hepatitis A infections generally clear up, without treatment, within two to five weeks.
Causes of hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV).
It is spread by:
- putting something in your mouth that has been contaminated with HAV
- eating food contaminated by HAV, especially if it has not been properly cooked
- drinking water contaminated by raw sewage
- eating raw or partially cooked shellfish contaminated by raw sewage
- having sexual contact (particularly anal sex) with a partner infected with HAV
HAV is generally not spread by casual contact, such as you would encounter in school, the office, or at a public event.
Risk factors of hepatitis A
A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition.
While the virus can affect anyone in the United States, there are certain risk factors that increase your chances of getting hepatitis A, including:
- having close contact with an infected person
- using household items that were used by an infected person, but were not properly cleaned
- having sexual contact with multiple partners
- traveling to, or spending long periods in, a country where hepatitis A is common or where sanitation is poor
- injecting drugs, especially if you use shared needles
- swallowing contaminated water or ice made with contaminated water
- eating raw shellfish harvested from sewage-contaminated water
- eating fruits, vegetables, or other food that may have become contaminated during handling
People at risk include:
- child care workers who change diapers or toilet train children
- children in day care centers
- institutionalized patients
- hemophiliacs receiving plasma products
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