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What is
hepatitis A? |
Hepatitis A is an infection of the liver. It is caused by the
hepatitis A virus.
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What are the symptoms of
hepatitis A? |
Symptoms vary greatly from severe to none at all. They include:
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Loss of appetite
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Nausea
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Stomachache
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Tiredness
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Fever
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Dark (cola) colored urine
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Light-colored stools
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Jaundice (yellowing of eyes or skin)
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What is the difference between
hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C?
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Hepatitis A,
hepatitis B and
hepatitis C are
diseases caused by three different viruses. Although each can cause similar
symptoms, they have different modes of transmission and can affect the liver
differently.
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How is
hepatitis A spread? |
For the most part,
hepatitis A is spread when a person does not wash his or her hands after using the toilet or changing diapers, and later prepares food.
The virus may also be spread by eating contaminated raw or undercooked foods.
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How can I keep from getting
hepatitis A? |
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After using the bathroom or changing diapers
o
After caring for someone who is ill
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Before preparing or eating food
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If I’ve been exposed to
hepatitis A, how long will it take for symptoms to develop?
|
It usually takes two to six weeks (most commonly one month) from the time a person is exposed to the virus until symptoms develop.
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How long is someone with
hepatitis A contagious?
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The contagious period is from two weeks before to one week after symptoms develop.
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What treatments are available for
hepatitis A? How serious is the disease? |
There are two inoculations that can be used to prevent
hepatitis A.
The first is immune globulin, which is a preparation of antibodies that can be given within two weeks after exposure to the virus. This will help your body fight the virus. It is 85 percent effective in preventing
hepatitis A. A single dose can provide protection for up to three months.
The second inoculation is a
hepatitis A vaccine, which is a series of two shots, given six months apart. Protection against
hepatitis A does not begin until four weeks after the first dose of the vaccine; therefore, it is not used for prevention after exposure. Once the vaccine
series is completed, protection will last for at least 20 years. The vaccine is not routinely recommended unless you are planning to travel to an area where there is a high incidence of
hepatitis A. |
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What is the Health Department doing to prevent the spread of
hepatitis A? |
The Health Department’s food safety and epidemiology staff is always on the look out for ways to prevent the spread of
hepatitis A.
Food safety inspectors work with restaurant owners to train them in proper hand washing and food preparation techniques. Inspectors check to make sure that local restaurants are getting their foods from approved sources, and that employees who prepare foods are handling foods with clean or gloved hands.
hepatitis A prevention is covered in our food manager’s program.
The Health Department’s epidemiology staff works with day cares and schools to prevent the spread of disease among children. We encourage those who are changing diapers to wash their hands frequently.
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How many cases of
hepatitis A are reported in Northern Kentucky each year? |
An average of six cases per year are reported to the Health Department. |
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Where can I get more information on
hepatitis A? |
For more information online, you can visit the Centers for Disease Control at
http://www.cdc.gov, or the Food and Drug Administration at
http://www.fda.org.
Or, for more information on the Health Department’s programs, please call 859.341.4264. |
