HEPATITIS A

What is hepatitis A? Hepatitis A is one of the most widespread infectious diseases worldwide. It is caused by the hepatitis A virus and is common in places with poor standards of hygiene and sanitation. The virus attacks the liver and causes varying degrees of illness in patients.How is hepatitis A transmitted? The hepatitis A virus is excreted in the faeces, and spreads primarily by the faecal oral route. The virus has a relatively long and infectious incubation period. Hence, the infected individual can pass on the disease to others even before the symptoms develop. Hepatitis A in children under 2 years is often unrecognized: thus they can be a potential source of infection. Direct contact with an infected person’s faeces or indirect contamination of food, water, hands and cooking utensils may result in the virus being ingested, causing infection.What are the sources of infection? A common source of infection is contaminated water or food, especially raw or insufficiently cooked food (fruits, salads, vegetables, seafood etc.) Food, which is well cooked but handled by infected individuals, can also be a source of infection. The infection may also be acquired through close contact with infected individual s with in families, school, daycare centers and hostels.