Infectious inflammation of liver (from feces-contaminated food or water). Also run Hepatitis General, Blood Purify, and Parasites Schistosoma Mansoni programs if necessary.Encyclopedia Entry for Hepatitis A :Hepatitis A - hepatitis A virus (Picornavirus: Enterovirus)Encyclopedia Entry for Hepatitis A :Hepatitis A - children. HAV is found in the stool (feces) and blood of an infected child. A child can catch hepatitis A by: Coming in contact with the blood or stool of a person who has the disease. Eating or drinking food or water that has been contaminated by blood or stools containing the HAV. Fruits, vegetables, shellfish, ice, and water are common sources of the disease. Eating food prepared by someone with the disease who does not wash their hands after using the bathroom. Being lifted or carried by someone with the disease who does not wash their hands after using the bathroom. Traveling to another country without being vaccinated for hepatitis A. Children can get hepatitis A at day care center from other children or from child care workers who have the virus and do not practice good hygiene. Other common hepatitis virus infections include hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Hepatitis A is typically the least serious and mildest of these diseases.Most children age 6 years and younger do not have any symptoms. This means that your child could have the disease, and you may not know it. This can make it easy to spread the disease among young children. When symptoms occur, they appear about 2 to 6 weeks after infection. The child may have flu-like symptoms, or the symptoms may be mild. Severe or fulminant hepatitis (liver failure) is rare in healthy children. The symptoms are often easy to manage and include: Dark urine Tiredness Loss of appetite Fever Nausea and vomiting Pale stools Abdominal pain (over the liver) Yellow skin and eyes ( jaundice ).The health care provider will perform a physical exam of your child. This is done to check for pain and swelling in the liver. The provider will perform a blood test to look for: Raised antibodies (proteins that fight infection) due to HAV Elevated liver enzymes due to liver damage or inflammation.There is no drug treatment for hepatitis A. Your child's immune system will fight the virus. Managing the symptoms can help your child feel better while recovering: Have your child rest when symptoms are the worst. DO NOT give acetaminophen to your child without first talking with your child's provider. It can be toxic because the liver is already weak. Give your child fluids in the form of fruit juices or electrolyte solutions, such as Pedialyte. This helps prevent dehydration. While rare, symptoms may be severe enough that children with HAV need extra fluids through a vein (IV).HAV does not remain in a child's body after the infection is gone. As a result, it does not cause a long-term infection in the liver. Rarely, a new case can cause severe liver failure that develops rapidly.The possible complications of hepatitis A in children can be: Liver damage Liver cirrhosis.Contact your child's provider if your child has symptoms of hepatitis A. Also contact the provider if your child has: Dry mouth due to loss of fluids No tears while crying Swelling in the arms, hands, feet, stomach, or face Blood in stools.You can protect your child from hepatitis A by having your child vaccinated. The hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for all children between their first and second birthdays (ages 12 to 23 months). You and your child should be vaccinated if you are traveling to countries where outbreaks of the disease occur. If your child has been exposed to hepatitis A, speak to your child's doctor regarding the possible need for treatment with immunoglobulin therapy. If your child attends day care: Make sure the children and staff at the day care center have had their hepatitis A vaccine. Inspect the area where diapers are changed to ensure that proper hygiene is followed. If your child gets hepatitis A, you can take these steps to help prevent the disease from spreading to other children or adults: Thoroughly wash your hands before and after preparing food, before eating, and before giving food to your child. Always wash your hands well after using the restroom, after changing your child's diaper, and if you come in contact with an infected person's blood, stools, or other body fluids. Help your child learn good hygiene. Teach your child to wash his or her hands before eating food and after using the bathroom. Avoid eating infected food or drinking polluted water.Viral hepatitis - children; Infectious hepatitis - children.Jensen MK, Balistreri WF. Viral hepatitis.Encyclopedia Entry for Hepatitis A :Hepatitis A vaccine - what you need to know. 1. WHY GET VACCINATED? Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease. It is caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). HAV is spread from person to person through contact with the feces (stool) of people who are infected, which can easily happen if someone does not wash his or her hands properly. You can also get hepatitis A from food, water, or objects contaminated with HAV. Symptoms of hepatitis A can include: fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and/or joint pain severe stomach pains and diarrhea (mainly in children), or jaundice (yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, clay-colored bowel movements). These symptoms usually appear 2 to 6 weeks after exposure and usually last less than 2 months, although some people can be ill for as long as 6 months. If you have hepatitis A, you may be too ill to work. Children often do not have symptoms, but most adults do. You can spread HAV without having symptoms. Hepatitis A can cause liver failure and death, although this is rare and occurs more commonly in persons 50 years of age or older and persons with other liver diseases, such as hepatitis B or C. Hepatitis A vaccine can prevent hepatitis A. Hepatitis A vaccines were recommended in the United States beginning in 1996. Since then, the number of cases reported each year in the U.S. has dropped from around 31,000 cases to fewer than 1,500 cases. 2. HEPATITIS A VACCINE Hepatitis A vaccine is an inactivated (killed) vaccine. You will need 2 doses for long-lasting protection. These doses should be given at least 6 months apart. Children are routinely vaccinated between their first and second birthdays (12 through 23 months of age). Older children and adolescents can get the vaccine after 23 months. Adults who have not been vaccinated previously and want to be protected against hepatitis A can also get the vaccine. You should get hepatitis A vaccine if you: are traveling to countries where hepatitis A is common, are a man who has sex with other men, use illegal drugs, have a chronic liver disease such as hepatitis B or hepatitis C, are being treated with clotting-factor concentrates, work with hepatitis A-infected animals or in a hepatitis A research laboratory, or expect to have close personal contact with an international adoptee from a country where hepatitis A is common. Ask your healthcare provider if you want more information about any of these groups. There are no known risks to getting hepatitis A vaccine at the same time as other vaccines. 3. SOME PEOPLE SHOULD NOT GET THIS VACCINE Tell the person who is giving you the vaccine: If you have any severe, life-threatening allergies. If you ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction after a dose of hepatitis A vaccine, or have a severe allergy to any part of this vaccine, you may be advised not to get vaccinated. Ask your health care provider if you want information about vaccine components. If you are not feeling well. If you have a mild illness, such as a cold, you can probably get the vaccine today. If you are moderately or severely ill, you should probably wait until you recover. Your doctor can advise you. 4. RISKS OF A VACCINE REACTION With any medicine, including vaccines, there is a chance of side effects. These are usually mild and go away on their own, but serious reactions are also possible. Most people who get hepatitis A vaccine do not have any problems with it. Minor problems following hepatitis A vaccine include: soreness or redness where the shot was given low-grade fever headache tiredness If these problems occur, they usually begin soon after the shot and last 1 or 2 days. Your doctor can tell you more about these reactions. Other problems that could happen after this vaccine: People sometimes faint after a medical procedure, including vaccination. Sitting or lying down for about 15 minutes can help prevent fainting, and injuries caused by a fall. Tell your provider if you feel dizzy, or have vision changes or ringing in the ears. Some people get shoulder pain that can be more severe and longer lasting than the more routine soreness that can follow injections. This happens very rarely. Any medication can cause a severe allergic reaction. Such reactions from a vaccine are very rare, estimated at about 1 in a million doses, and would happen within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination. As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a vaccine causing a serious injury or death. The safety of vaccines is always being monitored. For more information, visit: www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/ 5. WHAT IF THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM? What should I look for? Look for anything that concerns you, such as signs of a severe allergic reaction, very high fever, or unusual behavior. Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness. These would usually start a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination. What should I do? If you think it is a severe allergic reaction or other emergency that can't wait, call 9-1-1 and get to the nearest hospital. Otherwise, call your clinic. Afterward, the reaction should be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Your doctor should file this report, or you can do it yourself through the VAERS web site at www.vaers.hhs.gov , or by calling 1-800-822-7967. VAERS does not give medical advice. 6. THE NATIONAL VACCINE INJURY COMPENSATION PROGRAM The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) is a federal program that was created to compensate people who may have been injured by certain vaccines. Persons who believe they may have been injured by a vaccine can learn about the program and about filing a claim by calling 1-800-338-2382 or visiting the VICP website at www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation. There is a time limit to file a claim for compensation. 7. HOW CAN I LEARN MORE? Ask your healthcare provider. He or she can give you the vaccine package insert or suggest other sources of information. Call your local or state health department. Contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Call 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO) or visit CDC's website at www.cdc.gov/vaccines.Vaccine information statement: hepatitis A vaccine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated July 20, 2016. www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/hep-a.html. Accessed July 27, 2016.Encyclopedia Entry for Hepatitis A :Hepatitis A. The hepatitis A virus is found mostly in the stool and blood of an infected person. The virus is present about 15 to 45 days before symptoms occur and during the first week of illness. You can catch hepatitis A if: You eat or drink food or water that has been contaminated by stools (feces) containing the hepatitis A virus. Unpeeled and uncooked fruits and vegetables, shellfish, ice, and water are common sources of the disease. You come in contact with the stool or blood of a person who currently has the disease. A person with hepatitis A passes the virus to an object or food due to poor hand-washing after using the toilet. You take part in sexual practices that involve oral-anal contact. Not everyone has symptoms with hepatitis A infection. Therefore, many more people are infected than are diagnosed or reported. Risk factors include: Overseas travel, especially to Asia, South or Central America, Africa and the Middle East IV drug use Living in a nursing home center Working in a health care, food, or sewage industry Eating raw shellfish such as oysters and clams Other common hepatitis virus infections include hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Hepatitis A is the least serious and mildest of these diseases.Symptoms most often show up 2 to 6 weeks after being exposed to the hepatitis A virus. They are most often mild, but may last for up to several months, especially in adults. Symptoms include: Dark urine Fatigue Itching Loss of appetite Low-grade fever Nausea and vomiting Pale or clay-colored stools Yellow skin (jaundice).The health care provider will perform a physical exam, which may show that your liver is enlarged and tender. Blood tests may show: Raised IgM and IgG antibodies to hepatitis A (IgM is usually positive before IgG) IgM antibodies which appear during the acute infection Elevated liver enzymes (liver function tests), especially transaminase enzyme levels.There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A. You should rest and stay well hydrated when the symptoms are the worst. People with acute hepatitis should avoid alcohol and drugs that are toxic to the liver, including acetaminophen (Tylenol) during the acute illness and for several months after recovery. Fatty foods may cause vomiting and are best avoided during the acute phase of the illness.The virus does not remain in the body after the infection is gone. Most people with hepatitis A recover within 3 months. Nearly all people get better within 6 months. There is no lasting damage once you've recovered. Also, you can't get the disease again. There is a low risk for death. The risk is higher among older adults and people with chronic liver disease.Call your provider if you have symptoms of hepatitis.The following tips can help reduce your risk of spreading or catching the virus: Always wash your hands well after using the restroom, and when you come in contact with an infected person's blood, stools, or other bodily fluid. Avoid unclean food and water. The virus may spread more rapidly through day care centers and other places where people are in close contact. Thorough hand washing before and after each diaper change, before serving food, and after using the toilet may help prevent such outbreaks. Ask your provider about getting either immune globulin or the hepatitis A vaccine if you are exposed to the disease and have not had hepatitis A or the hepatitis A vaccine. Common reasons for getting one or both of these treatments include: You have hepatitis B or C or any form of chronic liver disease. You live with someone who has hepatitis A. You recently had sexual contact with someone who has hepatitis A. You recently shared illegal drugs, either injected or noninjected, with someone who has hepatitis A. You have had close personal contact over a period of time with someone who has hepatitis A. You have eaten in a restaurant where food or food handlers were found to be infected or contaminated with hepatitis. You are planning to travel to places where hepatitis A is common. Vaccines that protect against hepatitis A infection are available. The vaccine begins to protect 4 weeks after you get the first dose. You will need to get a booster shot 6 to 12 months later for long-term protection. Travelers should take the following steps to protect against getting the disease: Avoid dairy products. Avoid raw or undercooked meat and fish. Beware of sliced fruit that may have been washed in unclean water. Travelers should peel all fresh fruits and vegetables themselves. DO NOT buy food from street vendors. Get vaccinated against hepatitis A (and possibly hepatitis B) if traveling to countries where outbreaks of the disease occur. Use only carbonated bottled water for brushing teeth and drinking. (Remember that ice cubes can carry infection.) If bottled water is not available, boiling water is the best way to get rid of hepatitis A. Bring the water to a full boil for at least 1 minute to make it safe to drink. Heated food should be hot to the touch and eaten right away.Viral hepatitis; Infectious hepatitis.Digestive system Digestive system Hepatitis A Hepatitis A.Kim DK, Riley LE, Harriman KH, Hunter P, Bridges CB. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended immunization schedule for adults aged 19 years or older - United States, 2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2017;66(5):136-138. PMID: 28182599 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28182599. Pawlotsky J-M. Acute viral hepatitis.Encyclopedia Entry for Hepatitis A :Hepatitis A virus. Hepatovirus. Human,Fecal-oral, Associated with HepatitisEncyclopedia Entry for Hepatitis A :Hepatitis A: Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. Spread primarily by the fecal-oral route or by ingestion of contaminated water or food, the number of annual infections worldwide is estimated at 1.4 million. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, jaundice, and dark urine. Although those exposed usually develop lifelong immunity, the best protection against Hepatitis A is vaccination.Encyclopedia Entry for Hepatitis A :Hepatitis A virus. Hepatovirus. Human,Fecal-oral, Associated with HepatitisEncyclopedia Entry for Hepatitis A :Hepatitis A. Source of disease: Hepatitis A virus