The Occupational Health Blog

Hepatitis A: The Other Liver Infection

• NMS
• May 21, 2012

The month of May marks Hepatitis Awareness Month. For the next three days, we will be covering the disease with separate postings on each type of Hepatitis (A, B and C). The scary part about Hepatitis is that millions of Americans are unknowingly living with the disease. Hepatitis B & C can lead to chronic diseases such as liver cancer. We will discuss how to screen for Hepatitis and. protect your employees from the disease.

Today we will start with Hepatitis A.

 Hepatitis A: The Other Liver Infection

Typically, when you hear about Hepatitis, you immediately think of Hepatitis B or C. However, Hepatitis A, although is a self-resolving illness, is still a serious disease and extremely common.

Hepatitis A is a common form of liver injury that simply means an inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis A is a specific type of Hepatitis that is caused by a viral infection (viral hepatitis). It is highly contagious.

The severity of the disease can range from a mild illness that last a few weeks to a severe illness that lasts several months. Hepatitis A is contracted from the ingestion of fecal matter - even in microscopic amounts - from contact with objects (food, toothbrush, utensils) that have been handled by an infected person. All food handlers should be tested for Hepatitis A as part of ongoing medical surveillance.

Anyone can contract the disease. In the U.S., it is mostly spread person-to-person. There is a greater risk outside of the U.S. in areas such as Africa, South and Central America and the Middle East. Any employees traveling to these areas should receive the Hepatitis A vaccine as part of your travel medicine program.

Hepatitis A is detected through a blood test that shows proteins (antibodies) made by the body in response to the virus (the test is commonly referred to as the Hepatitis A antibody test).

No special medication or treatment is required. Rest and intake of fluids is all that is needed to combat the infection. Your body will eventually develop antibodies to kill the virus.

Hepatitis A vaccines are available as part of your Occupational Health Provider's travel medicine program. Ask your personal physician for the vaccination if traveling overseas.