Hepatitis A Prevention
- How
do you get hepatitis A?
- Who
is at risk for hepatitis A?
- How
do you know if you have hepatitis A?
- How
can you prevent hepatitis A?
- Who
should receive hepatitis A vaccine?
- Can
you get hepatitis A from food or water?
- Can
HAV be killed?
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CONTENTS:
Hepatitis
A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Hepatitis A can
affect anyone. In the United States, hepatitis A can occur in situations
ranging from isolated cases of disease to widespread epidemics.
Good
personal hygiene and proper sanitation can help prevent hepatitis A. Vaccine
are also available for long-term prevention of hepatitis A virus infection in
persons 2 years of age and older. Immune globulin is available for short-term
prevention in all ages.
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How do you get hepatitis A?
Hepatitis
A virus (HAV) is found in the stool of persons with hepatitis A. HAV is usually
spread from person to person by putting something in the mouth that had been
contaminated with the stool of a person with hepatitis A. For this reason, the
virus is more easily spread in areas where there are poor sanitary conditions
or where personal hygiene is not observed.
Persons
with hepatitis A can spread the virus to others who live in the same household
or with whom they have sexual contact. Casual contact as in the usual
office, factory, or school setting does not spread the virus.
Who is at risk for hepatitis A?
- Persons
who share a household or have sex contact with someone who has the
hepatitis A
- Travelers
to countries where hepatitis A is common and where clean water and proper
sewage disposal are not available
- Men
who have sex with men
- Persons
who use street drugs
- Children
and employees in child care centers (especially centers that have children
in diapers) where a child or employee has hepatitis A
- Residents
and staff of institutions for developmentally disabled persons when a
resident or employee has hepatitis A
- Workers
who handle HAV-infected animals or work with HAV in a research laboratory
setting. (This does not include laboratories doing routine testing.)
- Persons
with clotting factor disorders who receive clotting factor concentrates
How do you
know if you have hepatitis A?
Three of every four adults who get
hepatitis A have symptoms that usually develop over a period of several days.
Children who are infected often have no symptoms.
If you have symptoms
- your
eyes may turn yellow and you may have dark urine
- you
may be tired
- you
may lose your appetite
- you
may have nausea, vomiting, fever, or stomach ache
A person can spread HAV about one week
before symptoms appear and during the first week of symptoms. Persons with no
symptoms can still spread the virus. This often happens with young children who
unknowingly spread HAV to older children and adults.
Unlike hepatitis B and hepatitis C,
hepatitis A causes no long-term liver damage and usually does not cause death.
There is no chronic carrier state with hepatitis A. Having had the disease
produces life-long immunity from future HAV infection.
How can
you prevent hepatitis A?
You
should always wash your hands after using the bathroom, changing a diaper,
and before eating or preparing food.
Hepatitis
A vaccines provide long-term protection against hepatitis A and are licensed
for use in persons 2 years of age and older.
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Children and adults need two shots of
hepatitis A vaccine for long-term protection. Your doctor or nurse will tell
you when to return for the second shot.
Immune globulin, a preparation of
antibodies, is recommended for short-term protection against hepatitis A and
for persons who have already been exposed to HAV. Immune globulin must be given
within two weeks of exposure to HAV for maximum protection.
Who should
receive hepatitis A vaccine?
- Persons
who work in or travel to areas where hepatitis A is common. (first dose
should be given at least 4 weeks before travel)
- Children
in states and countries with constant increased rates of hepatitis A.
County and state health departments can tell you whether your areas have
these higher hepatitis A rates.
- Men
who have sex with men
- Persons
who use street drugs
- Persons
with clotting factor disorders, such as hemophilia
- Persons
who work with HAV-infected animals or work with HAV in a research setting
(hepatitis A vaccine is not generally recommended for health care
workers).
Can you
get hepatitis A from food or water?
In
addition to getting hepatitis A directly from infected people, you can get
hepatitis A by:
The virus is killed by boiling at 85
degrees C (185 degrees F) for 1 minute. However, the disease can still be
spread by cooked foods if they are contaminated after cooking. Adequate
chlorination of water, as recommended in the United States, kills HAV.
The material has been taken from
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/resource/a_prevent.htm
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