What is Hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable, communicable disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV).
How Is Hepatitis A Transmitted?
- Fecal-Oral Route: Consuming food or water contaminated with fecal matter from an infected person.
- Direct Contact: Close personal contact with an infected person, such as through sexual activity or handling items contaminated with fecal matter.
- Contaminated Surfaces: Touching surfaces or objects that have been contaminated with the virus and then touching the mouth or face.
- Unhygienic Practices: Poor sanitation and hygiene, especially in areas with inadequate sanitation facilities.
It’s important to practice good hand hygiene and ensure proper sanitation to prevent the spread of Hepatitis A.
Homeless Encampments
Hepatitis A outbreaks frequently occur in homeless encampments. This is often due to unsanitary conditions, injection drug use, and the close living quarters of infected individuals.
Prevention
The best way to prevent hepatitis A infection is to get vaccinated.
- Hep A Vaccination
- Hand Washing
- Washing hands before eating
Hepatitis A Symptoms
After contracting Hepatitis A, the body will produce antibodies that help protect against reinfection.
Adults
Usually resolves within 2 months of infection.
- Fatigue
- Low Appetite
- Stomach Pain
- Nausea
- Jaundice
Children
Most children under 6 years old do not show symptoms or may have an unrecognized infection
Infectious Diseases Spread Through Feces
Feces are a biohazard and can be a vector for infectious diseases. These diseases can spread when spores or microscopic particles of feces are transferred from one person to another, often through ingestion. This transmission can occur directly, such as hand-to-mouth contact, or indirectly via contaminated objects, surfaces, foods, or water. Some examples of diseases that spread through fecal contamination include:
- C Diff
- Hepatitis A
- Campylobacter
- Cryptosporidium
- Giardia
- Meningitis
- Hand, Foot, & Mouth Disease
- Rotavirus Infection
- Salmonella
- Shigella Infection
- Thrush
- Viral gastroenteritis
- Worms
- Yersinia Infection
