Hepatitis A

Definition: Hepatitis A

According to The American Heritage Dictionaries, Hepatitis A is "an infection of the liver that is caused by an RNA virus, which is transmitted by ingestion of infected food and water". Unlike viral hepatitis B and C, hepatitis A virus does not cause chronic persistent liver infection. This was the first hepatitis virus ever discovered and it known to be the most common cause of liver inflammation all over the world.

Incubation period and infectivity

The hepatitis A virus has an incubation period virus which ranges from 15 to 49 days (mean = 25 days). The first phase (simultaneous with the onset of the disease) is characterized by non-specific symptoms, such as fatigue, weakness, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and, less commonly, fever followed by headache, rash and/or diarrhea. After 1 to 2 weeks from the onset of the disease jaundice can occur.

The infectivity reaches its highest point during the 2 weeks period before onset of jaundice, when the concentration of virus is maximum (that decreases after jaundice occurs). Children can spread hepatitis A virus for longer periods than adults do, lasting up to 10 weeks after the clinical illness has occurred.

Hepatitis A Hepatitis A Symptoms