Hepatitis A (HAV) Infection

Hepatitis A Infection

• Hepatitis A (HAV) is a common infection that occurs in conditions of poor sanitation and overcrowding.
• Main transmission routes of HAV include fecal contaminated food and water, and contaminated blood on hands.
• Other transmission routes include person-to-person contact through sexual contact in institutional or incarcerated settings.
• Good personal hygiene and proper sanitation can help prevent the transmission of HAV.

Incubation Period and Symptoms

• The incubation period of HAV is 15 to 50 days, with an average incubation period of 28 days.
• Symptoms of HAV include abdominal discomfort, loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, dark urine, and jaundice.
• Symptoms usually last less than 2 months, but approximately 15% of people infected with HAV have a prolonged or relapsing course of illness lasting as long as 6-9 months.

Epidemiology

• Hepatitis A has occurred in large nationwide epidemics approximately every 10 years, with the last increase in cases in 2018-2019.
• The HAV infection rate in the US was relatively low with some increases and decreases.
• The last peak in the US was in 2020, when there were 19,000 Hepatitis A infections.
• The incidence of hepatitis A is now similar in all age groups.

Vaccination

• There is a vaccination for HAV.
• The HAV vaccine is recommended for people in communities where outbreaks of hepatitis A are occurring and for anyone who has been exposed to hepatitis A virus.

Learn about Hepatitis A, a common infection in areas with poor sanitation and overcrowding, its transmission, incubation period, and symptoms.