Hepatitis A

external

• Synonyms

  • Hep A

• Causes

  • Faecal contamination of food
  • Travel
  • Homosexuality
  • Shellfish
  • Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

• Effects

  • Viral hepatitis
  • Anorexia
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Hepatocellular jaundice
  • Fulminant liver failure
  • HAV antibodies
  • Aplastic anaemia
  • Acute hepatitis

• Parents

  • Hepatitis virus
  • Enterovirus
  • Notifiable disease

• Treatments

  • Symptomatic treatment
  • Prophylactic immunisation

• Description

  • "Incubation period =28 days . Resistant to detergent
  • acid
  • drying. Survives for months in fresh & salt water. Inactivated by chlorine . No specific treatment . Symptoms last 2 months. Iimmune for life. Does not become chronic. "