• Hepatitis A is a communicable, contagious disease that spreads from person to person. It is estimated there are between 84,000 and 134,000 total infections per year in the United States.

• Hepatitis A virus can be transmitted through oral-anal sex.

• Blood tests, widely available, can accurately detect the body response to the presence of hepatitis A.

• About 2 persons in 1000 with symptoms of acute hepatitis A will die of acute liver failure. Hepatitis A may cause no symptoms at all when it is contracted, especially in young people. When symptoms are present they appear as sudden onset of an influenza-like illness.

• The direct and indirect costs of Hepatitis A  exceed $300 million when considered that this disease is totally preventable through active or passive immunization and that Outbreaks need not occur if responsible preventive measures are taken.

• If you have been vaccinated for Hepatitis A some of the blood tests may result positive indicating immunity and not an infection.

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Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the Hepatitis A virus.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, It is estimated that there are between 125,000 and 200,000 total infections per year in the United States,84,000 to 134,000 of the total infections will be with symptoms of hepatitis A.

Hepatitis A (HAV) is transmitted primarily through oral contact with feces (oral-fecal contact). This includes contaminated food or water sources and sexual contact, especially oral-anal sex.

HAV has on rare occasions been transmitted by blood. The presence of virus in the blood occurs with the onset of infection and is thought to be short-lived.

Most adults infected with HAV usually do develop some symptoms. Symptoms may develop about 15-50 days after exposure; the average is 28 days. These may include:

• Low-grade fever

• Malaise (feeling of ill-health)

• Loss of appetite

• Nausea

• Abdominal discomfort

• Dark-colored urine

• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)

Sexual prevention:

• Abstinence (not having sex).

• Latex condoms for oral sex (recommended).

• Moisture barriers, like household plastic wraps or dental dams, may be suggested to reducing risk from oral-anal sex.

There is no accepted treatment for HAV. Supportive care is recommended, usually guided by symptoms. Once recovered, an individual is immune and will not get hepatitis A again.

As part of good partner communication, deciding to use latex condoms and moisture barriers during sex helps reduce the risk of transmitting a sexually transmitted disease. HAV can be transmitted through oral-anal sex so it is recommended to always use safer sex methods to reduce the risk of transmission.

Vaccination:

HAV is preventable by vaccination. A new combination vaccine called Twinrix has been approved for protection from both HAV and HBV in persons 18 and older. It reduces the total number of injections for vaccination from both viruses from five to three. This two-dose series given at least six months apart, provides pre-exposure protection from HAV infection in children aged 2 years or older and in adults. Vaccination against HAV is recommended for those who are at risk of infection.

People who have been exposed to hepatitis A should  talk with their health care provider about a post-exposure immune globulin (IG) injection.

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