Hepatitis A: Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention

Hepatitis is an inflammation of your liver. Hepatitis A is an infection causing the inflammation of the liver. It is not a chronic condition, as are hepatitis B and C. Once you've had hepatitis A and recovered, your liver also heals and you become immune to catching hepatitis A again. Many people carry an antibody to hepatitis A, meaning they can carry the infection and pass it to others but never experience symptoms themselves.

Fecal Material

• The fecal-oral spread of hepatitis A is the most common cause. If you eat or drink anything that has been contaminated with fecal material containing hepatitis A, you are at risk.

Raw or Undercooked Shellfish

• If you consume raw or undercooked shellfish that lived in water that was polluted by sewage, you can contract hepatitis A.

Blood Transfusion

• It is possible, although rare, to contract hepatitis A via blood transfusion.

Sexual Intercourse

• If you engage in sexual intercourse with someone who has hepatitis A, you are at an increased risk of getting hepatitis A.

Travel

• If you travel to developing countries, you are at an increased risk of contracting hepatitis A.

Place of Employment

• If you are employed at a prison, day care center or other place where fecal oral transmission has a higher rate of occurrence, you are more susceptible to getting hepatitis A.