- Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. 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. Vaccines 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 of hepatitis A virus infection in all ages.

CLINICAL FEATURES
  • Jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, intermittent nausea, diarrhea
ETIOLOGIC AGENT
  • Hepatitis A virus
INCIDENCE
  • Estimated 125,00-200,000 total infections/yr in United States
  • 84,000-134,000 symptomatic infections/yr
  • 100 deaths due to fulminant hepatitis/yr
SEQUELAE
  • Prolonged or relapsing hepatitis (15%)
  • No chronic infection
PREVALENCE
  • 33% of Americans have evidence of past infection (immunity)
COSTS
  • Estimated $200 million (1991 dollars)/yr (medical and work loss)
TRANSMISSION
  • Fecal-oral; food/waterborne outbreaks; bloodborne (rare)
RISK GROUPS
  • Household/sexual contacts of infected persons;
  • International travelers;
  • Persons living in American Indian reservations, Alaska Native villages, and other regions with endemic hepatitis A;
  • During outbreaks: day care center employees or attendees, homosexually active men, injecting drug users
SURVEILLANCE
  • National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System
  • Viral Hepatitis Surveillance Program
  • Sentinel Counties Studies
TRENDS
  • Large nationwide outbreaks every decade (last in 1989)
  • Cases increasing slightly during past several years
PREVENTION
  • Hepatitis A vaccine is highly effective in preventing hepatitis A and provides the potential to have a substantial impact on the disease burden;
  • Immune globulin administered pre- and postexposure;
  • Good hygiene and sanitation

Table from the CDC

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