Smileband health topics

Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by the Hepatitis A virus (HAV). Hepatitis A is highly contagious. Adults are more likely to have symptoms than children. Infections range from asymptomatic to disabling illness that may last several months but are seldom fatal and not chronic.

Symptoms may include:

• fever
• malaise
• anorexia
• nausea
• abdominal discomfort
• diarrhea

Jaundice, dark urine and clay-colored stool may also occur.

Individuals are most infectious 1 to 2 weeks before onset of jaundice or elevation of liver enzymes.

The number of reported cases of hepatitis A in Arizona has been decreasing over the past 10 years.

Arizona 5 year median: 72 cases

Transmission 
Direct and indirect person-to-person spread via the fecal-oral route. Rarely, blood-borne transmission can occur during the viremic phase of the disease.

The incubation period can range from 15 to 50 days (average of 25-30 days).

Lab Tests & Specimen Info 

Test*	Specimen
IgM Serology (IgM antibody develops 1 week after symptom onset and peaks approximately in 3 months and is usually gone after 6 months)	Serum

 

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