Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is found in the stool of persons with hepatitis A. HAV is usually spread from person to person by putting something in the mouth that had been contaminated with the stool of a person with hepatitis A. For this reason, the virus is more easily spread in areas where there are poor sanitary conditions or where personal hygiene is not observed.

Persons with hepatitis A can spread the virus to others who live in the same household or with whom they have sexual contact. Casual contact as in the usual office, factory, or school setting does not spread the virus.

• Persons who share a household or have sex contact with someone who has the hepatitis A
• Travelers to countries where hepatitis A is common and where clean water and proper sewage disposal are not available

• Children and employees in child care centers (especially centers that have children in diapers) where a child or employee has hepatitis A

• Residents and staff of institutions for developmentally disabled persons when a resident or employee has hepatitis A

• Workers who handle HAV-infected animals or work with HAV in a research laboratory setting. (This does not include laboratories doing routine testing.)

Three of every four adults who get hepatitis A have symptoms that usually develop over a period of several days. Children who are infected often have no symptoms.

If you have symptoms

• your eyes may turn yellow and you may have dark urine

• you may be tired

• you may lose your appetite

• you may have nausea, vomiting, fever, or stomach ache

A person can spread HAV about one week before symptoms appear and during the first week of symptoms. Persons with no symptoms can still spread the virus. This often happens with young children who unknowingly spread HAV to older children and adults.

Unlike hepatitis B and hepatitis C, hepatitis A causes no long-term liver damage and usually does not cause death. There is no chronic carrier state with hepatitis A. Having had the disease produces life-long immunity from future HAV infection.

Children and adults need two shots of hepatitis A vaccine for long-term protection.