Hepatitis A is most widespread in parts of
the world where standards of sanitation and food hygiene are generally poor,
such as parts of Africa, the Indian subcontinent, the Far East, the Middle
East, and Central and South America.
The hepatitis A virus, which causes the
infection, usually is spread when a person ingests even tiny amounts of
contaminated fecal matter. The hepatitis A virus infects liver cells and causes
inflammation. The inflammation can impair liver function and cause other signs
and symptoms of hepatitis A.
Hepatitis A virus can be transmitted
several ways, such as:
1)
Eating
food handled by someone with the virus who doesn't thoroughly wash his or her
hands after using the toilet
2)
Drinking
contaminated water
3)
Eating raw
shellfish from water polluted with sewage
4)
Being in
close contact with a person who's infected — even if that person has no signs
or symptoms
5)
Having sex
with someone who has the virus
Someone with hepatitis A is most infectious
from around two weeks before their symptoms appear until about a week after the
symptoms first develop.
